15 July Democracy and National Unity Day: Türkiye, the Name of Victory

Daily Tribune

a day ago

By H.E. Dr. Ayşe Hilal Sayan Koytak Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye
Nine years ago today, the Republic of Türkiye experienced one of the darkest nights in its history; yet the same night also became etched in history as one of the Turkish nation's most heroic struggles. Today, in order to be more effective in the global fight against terrorism, it is essential to understand the nature of this treacherous coup attempt and the nationwide mobilization the Turkish people mounted to thwart it.
The Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO), which had infiltrated the vital organs of the state for years in pursuit of its sinister agenda, launched a bloody coup attempt through its members embedded in the Turkish Armed Forces on the night of July 15, 2016, directly targeting the survival of our Republic, our constitutional order, and our democracy. It has been revealed by confessions and revelations from within the organization that the July 15 coup attempt was organized by FETO.
These individuals, having infiltrated the Turkish Armed Forces over many years, targeted key state institutions in an unprecedented display of violence. Blinded by fanaticism, members of this terrorist organization went as far as bombing the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, the Presidential Complex, the National Intelligence Organization headquarters, and the Police Special Operations Center in Ankara.
As a result, 251 of our citizens were martyred, and more than two thousand were wounded and became veterans. This heinous coup attempt has gone down in history as not only Türkiye's but also one of the vilest attacks faced by modern democracies.
Thanks to the resolute leadership of our President, His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the courage of Turkish people, and the sacrifices of loyal officers of Turkish Armed Forces and Security Forces, this attack was repelled. The Turkish nation demonstrated an unyielding will to uphold democracy even at the cost of their lives.
The coup attempt revealed the extent of FETO's deep infiltration into the state apparatus. The crimes committed on the night of July 15th can be considered as the tip of the iceberg. The organization's strategy began decades earlier, through the establishment of schools and preparatory academies designed to indoctrinate students under the guise of education. Young people were trained to become loyal operatives, disregarding ethics, law, and democratic principles in favor of allegiance to the organization's leadership. Many gained entries into government institutions through illicit means, including the theft of exam questions. They were ordered to stay hidden and to infiltrate state institutions. Individuals who stood in the organization's way were removed through schemes and false allegations.
As the organization gained influence and wealth, it began interfering in commercial dealings, engaging in large-scale money laundering, and routinely committing various financial crimes. Once the Turkish government grasped the true nature of these activities, FETO resorted to increasingly radical and aggressive tactics. The first major incident occurred in December 2013, when the group released a series of alleged recordings and falsified documents. Although this initial attack failed to achieve its goals, it served as a turning point for both the government and the public. With the uncovering of their covert communication tools (such as bylock, eagle, and tango etc) and the interception of their internal messages, efforts were launched to counter the group's operations and expose the depth of its infiltration and the damage it had inflicted.
In short, FETO leveraged state resources to build an extensive economic and political network, creating a covert structure even within the Turkish Armed Forces. The events of July 15 starkly illustrated how dangerous this organization had become.
July 15, Democracy and National Unity Day, marks not only the thwarting of a coup attempt but also the sacred victory of public will and democracy. It stands as an unwavering response to the enemies of democracy. That night, the Turkish people resisted tanks, jets, and guns with nothing but their bare hands and hearts, defending their free will, future, flag, and Republic.
Over the past nine years since this treacherous coup attempt, Türkiye has waged a determined struggle against FETO without compromising the rule of law, in line with its Constitution and international obligations. The Turkish government has taken comprehensive legal, administrative, and economic measures to remove the group's presence from public institutions and civil society. Domestically, these efforts have focused on three key areas: holding coup perpetrators accountable in the courts, purging FETO's organizational structure from government institutions, and disrupting the group's activities in fields like education, media, and finance.
Every element of FETO that had infiltrated public institutions has been carefully identified, brought to justice, and the organization's societal, economic, and international networks have been dismantled.
During this process, the solidarity shown by friendly and brotherly countries has left a deep and lasting mark on the hearts of the Turkish people. In particular, the visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who became the first leader from the Gulf region and the Arab world to visit Türkiye following the July 15 events, remains for us an unforgettable example of solidarity and brotherhood. That meaningful visit is etched in our memories as one of the strongest symbols of the close friendship and shared values between our two countries. With this rare gesture of solidarity, His Majesty King Hamad won the hearts of the entire Turkish nation. On this occasion, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the people of Bahrain for their unwavering solidarity in all circumstances.
The fight against FETO remains one of the most critical pillars of our national security. Thanks to effective efforts, FETO's operational capacity has been largely neutralized not only within Türkiye but also abroad. However, the organization continues its efforts to survive through its networks overseas and operates under the guise of legitimate institutions in various countries. These structures exploit fields such as education, culture, civil society, and humanitarian aid and in fact serve as strategic tools to maintain FETO's global influence.
Combating such organizations, which pose a threat to the future of democratic societies, is not only Türkiye's responsibility but a shared duty of the entire international community. After all, terrorism knows no language, religion, race, or geography. This dark network, which exploits all the universal values respected by humanity for its own agenda, constitutes a security threat to every country and society where it operates.
In this regard, cooperation with friendly and allied nations is of vital importance. As Türkiye, we engage in close dialogue with our counterparts in countries where FETO is active and strive to build a shared awareness of the threat posed by this terrorist organization. Important steps have already been taken in this struggle, including the closure and transfer of FETO-linked schools to the Turkish Maarif Foundation, the extradition of FETO members, and the initiation of judicial processes.
Various countries and international organizations have declared FETO as a terrorist organization. In this context, FETO was declared as a terrorist organization in the 43rd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC held on 19 October 2016; a similar resolution was written at the Asian Parliamentary Assembly on 1 December 2016 and ratified at the 12th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC on 27 January 2017. In addition to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared FETO a terrorist organization with the verdict rendered on 28 December 2018.
The death of FETO ringleader Fethullah Gülen on October 20, 2024, in the United States, without standing trial, has not led us to complacency. Our determination to fight FETO will continue unwaveringly until this treacherous organization is completely eradicated. One of our key responsibilities in this fight is undoubtedly to explain to the world the legitimacy of our struggle. FETO still manages to infiltrate societies abroad and poison especially young minds with distorted narratives based on manufactured victimhood.
On the ninth anniversary of July 15, Democracy and National Unity Day, we remember with mercy, gratitude, and respect all our martyrs and heroes who fought for this cause, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our veterans. We once again reaffirm our unwavering stance against any structure or mentality that seeks to undermine our democracy, our Republic, and the unity of our nation.