On the night of July 15, 2016, an attempted coup d'état aimed at overthrowing the democratically elected government was carried out in Turkey. Professor Fahrettin Altun, Head of the Communication Department under the President of Turkey, explains how this riot began, what events took place, and how the coup plotters were fought.

On the night of July 15, 2016, an attempted coup d'état aimed at overthrowing the democratically elected government was carried out in Turkey. The coup attempt of the Fethullah terrorist organization began with the closing of bridges in Istanbul and the entry of tanks into the streets.

Many state institutions and organizations, first of all the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the Presidential Complex and the Security Department of Ankara region were bombed. It soon became clear that these events were not an isolated incident, but a coordinated attack.

Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) attacked Turkish resident Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in order to assassinate him. After the President's call on national television, our people took to the streets to defend their democracy. Millions of our citizens fought against the terrorist organization that planned a coup d'état throughout the night .

On the morning of July 16, with the efforts of the Turkish Armed Forces, the General Directorate of Security and the efforts of our people who defended their democracy, the treacherous coup attempt was suppressed and the coup initiators were arrested. A total of 252 compatriots from the military and non-military population were martyred, and 2,740 citizens were injured. On the night of July 15, heroes such as the martyr Omer Kh alisdemir, who resisted with his life to protect the command of the Special Forces and neutralized the general who was part of the main team of the coup, became an obstacle against the coup plotters. Our citizens risked their lives on the closed Strait Bridge and managed to neutralize the coup plotters who tried to kill them. This is one of the historical moments when the unity and determination of our people have been tested.

The Turkish government took measures to establish order and bring the perpetrators to justice from the first moments of the coup attempt. In the process , according to the statements of our residents and government representatives , it became known that the coup attempt was carried out by an illegal group that infiltrated the Turkish Armed Forces, outside the control of the command structure.

It was found that the FETÖ organization was behind the coup attempt. It turned out that the head of the organization residing in the USA carried out this treason with the help of a parallel structure within the state.

The victory was noted as one of the most honorable resistances in the history of democracy, not only in Turkey, but in the whole world.

Turkey, which continues its struggle today, expects solidarity from friendly and allied countries, especially in the issue of the extradition of refugees hiding abroad and FETÖ leaders. Although there are many countries in the international community that support and are united with Turkey, the response of some of our allies to the coup attempt was insufficient.

The coverage of the coup attempt in the mass media of these countries was not satisfactory to the Turkish state. Internationally responsible Western mass media tried to simplify the events that happened on the night of July 15. They reported the attempt of a bloody coup aimed at the democracy of our country with an untrue expression in the form of "a conflict between two sides".

Despite numerous attempts to extradite the head of the organization, which was based in Pennsylvania after the July 15 coup attempt, we could not get a positive response from our ally, the United States. It is unfortunate for us to take such a position when there is a threat to our democracy.

We know that FETÖ continues to operate in large-scale regions along with our allied countries. We will continue to fight against this subversive organization, which threatens the security not only of Turkey, but also of all neighboring countries.

As a country that has further strengthened democratic organizations after the attempted coup d'état , we will continue to fight against the terrorist organization that targets the lives of our citizens and the independence of our country in every sphere.

We will continue to honor the memory of our citizens who sacrificed their lives on that bloody night, protecting the independence and future of Turkey.

Professor Fahrettin Altun

Head of the Communications Department under the Resident of the Republic of Turkey