2016 defeated coup was attempt to destroy free, independent Türkiye: Communications director

ISTANBUL

The July 15, 2016 defeated coup was an attempt to destroy free and independent Türkiye, said the Turkish communications director on Saturday.

Attending a July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day commemoration ceremony in Istanbul, Fahrettin Altun said that the Turkish nation “did not give an opportunity to the treacherous terrorist group FETO nor to its patrons, the imperialists.”

“July 15 was a coup attempt by terrorists disguised in military uniform. In fact, the July 15 coup attempt was an invasion attempt,” said Altun in his address at the Heroes of the Century of Türkiye event.

“Together with the leader of this beloved nation, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish nation defeated terrorism, putschists, and invaders. In this respect, July 15 is the name of the nation's victory,” he added.

Altun said the nation’s response to the attempted coup was proof of how deep-rooted democracy is in Türkiye, making July 15 a symbol of the country’s national unity and integrity.

He said Türkiye will continue to bring FETO members to justice wherever they hide in the world.

“This poisonous structure has been operating as the agent of the imperialists among us for years, allowing various plots and anti-democratic interventions. As the influence of this treacherous organization was broken, our state's maneuverability increased, and many steps were taken for the benefit of our country, especially the fight against terrorism,” said Altun.

“We have made very important gains in the fight against FETO. Just as the understanding of draining terrorism at its source is essential in our fight against (terrorist groups) Daesh/ISIS and the PKK, the same understanding is essential in the fight against FETO,” he added.

Later on Saturday, on Twitter Altun posted a video made by the Communications Directorate to mark the seventh anniversary of the 2016 defeated coup.

"No one will be able to bring captivity to this nation. Salute those who turned the squares into areas of resistance, destroyed the July 15 coup and invasion attempt, and surrendered the terrorists one by one with an unshakable faith," Altun said in the same Twitter post.

The video featured the anthem of Heroes of the Century of Türkiye.

Türkiye on Saturday marked the seventh anniversary of the defeated 2016 coup bid by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

Since its official designation in October 2016, every year the nation marks July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day, with events held nationwide to commemorate those who lost their lives defeating the putschists and to remember the bravery of the nation.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup, which left 253 people dead and 2,734 injured.