Hosted by Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, in cooperation with the Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services and the July 15 Association, a dinner program was held in the garden of Sepetçiler Kasrı in honor of the families of our heroic July 15 martyrs and our veterans, as part of the 10th anniversary of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day.
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, July 15 Association President İsmail Hakkı Turunç, district governors, provincial and district protocol, representatives of martyr and veteran associations, families of July 15 martyrs and veterans attended the program.
'They took to the streets saying the will is ours, the victory is ours'
The program began with a recitation of the Quran and continued with dinner.
Speaking at the program, Governor Gül said, "I would like to convey the greetings and love of our President to you. We come together from time to time. On each anniversary, we relive the same feelings. Ten years have passed. We understood and knew that this was an invasion attempt disguised as a coup, and we resisted this invasion attempt. A victory was achieved through the foresight of our nation and the determination and courage of our President."
"Everyone who took to the streets, fell as martyrs, became veterans, and showed their reaction from ages 7 to 70, actually came out of their own will, as seen in the slogan behind us. Yes, the will was ours and as a result, the victory was ours. On this occasion, we once again ask for God's mercy on our martyrs. We wish health, well-being and recovery to our veterans," he said.
'We showed friend and foe that coups cannot happen in Turkey just like that'
Governor Gül said, "During that period, almost all of our nation set aside their differences and stood by the national will. When we look at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, we saw that while our parliament was being bombed, deputies from every political party resisted there."
"On the streets, we witnessed people who did not look alike, did not think alike, did not dress alike; yet all stood together against these coup plotters. As you know, a coup every 10 years had become a routine and ordinary matter."
"On July 15, with the efforts of your relatives first and foremost, and with the support of our nation, we showed friend and foe that coups cannot happen in Turkey just like that," he said.
İsmail Hakkı Turunç: 'The heroism of the Turkish nation'
July 15 Association President İsmail Hakkı Turunç said, "You cannot find a nation anywhere in the world that, without any weapons, bares its chest against tanks and cannons."
"Who is this nation? It is the Turkish nation. Truly, being a member of this nation is a chance and an honor for us. God willing, we will hand over these lands, which our ancestors left us not as inheritance but as a trust, to future generations in the best way by developing and strengthening our country and state. Treacheries have occurred in many countries around the world. May our state and nation be strong."
"Let no country attempt to tear apart and divide the country. We overcame this danger with this betrayal and formation, and with our President's call to the streets. The winner here was the state and the nation," he said.
MP Hasan Turan: 'A blow was struck against the coup plotters'
AK Party Istanbul MP Hasan Turan said, "Our country was struck by juntas and coups that were imposed on it."
"On July 15, with this treacherous coup attempt and our President's call to the streets, a blow was struck against the coup plotters. The junta members and coup plotters were held accountable before justice. This nation wrote another epic in history on the night of July 15. It showed the evil forces that no one should attempt such paths from now on. The coups experienced in these countries were backed by global imperialist countries."
"It was an attempt to slow down Turkey and divert it from its path. By striking a blow against the coup, with the President's intervention, this coup failed. May God grant us to take a lesson and warning from this. Those who forget are struck twice from the same place. Therefore, we will protect our national will," he said.
At the end of the night, prayers were recited for the martyrs, and wishes were expressed that coups like July 15 would never happen again in Turkey.
