Article by Sibel Erkan, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Sierra Leone
Turkey commemorates the fifth anniversary of a thwarted coup attempt taken place on 15 July 2016, which was an explicit attack against Turkey’s legitimacy.
With dramatic news coverage in the Turkish media still in mind, one may vividly remember what happened exactly today five years ago. On an ordinary Friday, 15 July 2016, Turks, who were relieved of the stress and labor of a cumbersome week, were either indulged in an outdoor entertainment or just content with zapping TV channels for their favorite soap operas in the sweltering summer night in Turkey.
All of a sudden, fighter jets and helicopters of the Turkish Air Force appeared in the sky, tanks rolled over on major bridges and roads and soldiers started setting up checkpoints along the main arteries of Istanbul and Ankara. The feeling of terror intensified with jets bombing the Turkish Parliament, the Presidential Compound and other critical security facilities and the Chief of General Staff was kidnapped by a mob of renegade officers.
President Erdogan, narrowly escaping an assassination attempt in his holiday resort, addressed the nation on tv by a mobile telephone connection at midnight, urging people to take to streets to resist the coup attempt and defend democracy.
This call was a turning point in the rapidly unfolding chain of events. In minutes, millions of civilians crowded the streets, airports and government facilities to guard what is so valuable for them.
The renegade fighter jets, helicopters and tanks opened mercilessly fire on them. The determination of ordinary people who stood up for their rights and freedoms reversed an otherwise inevitable catastrophe.
Who did mastermind this bloody coup attempt? A thorough investigation by the state security services confirmed that by a mob of officers affiliated with the Fetullah Terrorist Organization(FETÖ) and its US-based leader Fetullah Gülen orchestrated the coup, which left 251 people martyred and more than 2,000 injured.
May the souls of those who perished in protecting democracy rest in peace. For decades, Gülen has directed his disciples to infiltrate in critical state institutions such as the police, the judiciary and the army and thereby set the foundation for a parallel state structure.
I can say that we have destroyed the backbone of the organization in Turkey with the measures we have taken. Whatever prejudices or untruths that one carries against Turkey here or there, in the face of this existential threat, the Turkish authorities have taken measures proportionate, legally and morally justified and compatible with the gravity of the situation. However, the threat is not limited to Turkey.
The terrorist organization FETÖ continues to act as a sectarian movement internationally. It should be borne in mind that this organization imposes absolute submission and total dedication on its pseudo-leaders, hijacks traditional economic circuits and does not hesitate to resort to acts of destabilization if it considers that its interests are threatened.
Its actions and abuses are likely to seriously undermine public order, laws, freedoms and fundamental rights in the countries where it continues to operate. Therefore, constant vigilance is necessary.
The Turkish nation proved to the world that democracy is precious enough to die for its sake. So our aim and endeavors will be to take the necessary steps in time to crown our democracy.
