Istanbul to host 'democracy rally' against failed coup

ISTANBUL

A mass "Democracy and Martyrs" rally is set to be held in this Sunday, Aug. 7, in protest of the July 15 deadly coup attempt and in support of democracy.

The rally in Istanbul’s Yenikapi district is expected to culminate weeks of “Democracy Watch” rallies in cities, held nightly since the thwarted coup to protest U.S.-based preacher Fetullah Gulen and his Fetullah Terrorist Organization, or FETO, reportedly behind the failed coup.

Yasin Aktay, the vice chair of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, said Wednesday that the rally would not appeal to just AK Party supporters.

"On the contrary, we are expecting the participation of all the other parties,” he said after the party's central executive committee meeting, mentioning by name main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kilicdaroglu and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Bahceli.

Bahceli confirmed Wednesday that he will attend the rally, which he said will "finalize the democracy duties of the people."

"I will be there in Yenikapi, with all the participants, to keep alive the spirit of unity and solidarity, to eliminate all doubt, to dispel despair, and to open a new door to fortune and history," he said.

However, Kilicdaroglu will not attend, the party's group deputy chairman Ozgur Ozel said earlier Wednesday. Instead, a CHP vice chairman and Istanbul deputies of the party, as well as supporters, will attend, he said.

The AK Party’s Aktay also confirmed that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim will attend.

A huge stage will be erected in Yenikapi, as well as big TV screens and sound systems. Around 13,000 people, aside from for the police officers, will be on duty to organize the event, clean up, and do technical work. Helicopters, ambulances, and over 700 medical personnel will be there for healthcare services.

Aktay said that similar rallies would also be held simultaneously all across the country.

He praised the way the people of Turkey "acted together against malice," and added: "Democracy and freedom fits this nation the best."

On the attempted coup that martyred at least 238 and wounded more than 2,100 people, he said the country faced "treason" which had deep roots in the past 50 years.

"People from all over the world, free from prejudice, could see what happens in Turkey is a great epic of the people of this country in this century."

- New constitution

Pointing to efforts to draw up a new constitution, Aktay said one representative from all parliament’s political parties would come together to work on it, and the agreed items will go to the full parliament.

Abdulhamit Gul will represent the AK Party, he announced.

The country has long been seeking to replace its constitution, much of which dates back to Turkey’s military regime of the 1980s. However, the parliamentary committee to discuss the issue was dissolved earlier this year.

Later, a committee was established within the AK Party, which has repeatedly made constitutional reform a central theme.

Now, following the military coup attempt, the issue is at the top of the agenda.

*Humeyra Atilgan Buyukovali contributed to this report from Istanbul