(MENAFN- AzerNews)
By Prof Fahrettin Altun
On the night of July 15, 2016, a treacherous coup attempt was
carried out, aiming to overthrow the democratically elected
government of Türkiye. The Fetullahist terrorist Organisation's
coup attempt began with the blockade of bridges in Istanbul and
tanks taking to the streets.
Many state institutions and organisations, notably the Grand
National Assembly of Türkiye, the Presidential Complex and Ankara
Provincial Directorate of Police, were bombed. It was soon realised
that the incident was not an independent case but a coordinated
action.
FETO's coup units organised an attack aimed at assassinating our
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Our people took to the squares to
defend their democracy upon the call of our president, broadcast on
national television. Millions of our citizens fought against the
putschist terrorist organisation throughout the night.
The Turkish Armed Forces, the Turkish National Police, and our
nation, steadfast in its democracy, suppressed the treacherous coup
attempt on the morning of July 16 and apprehended its plotters. On
the night of July 15, heroes such as Martyr Ömer Halisdemir, who
resisted at the cost of his life to defend the Special Forces
Command and neutralised the general who was part of the coup's
brain trust, stood as a barrier against the coup plotters. Our
citizens managed to neutralise the coup plotters who intended to
take their lives on the blocked Bosphorus Bridge, at the risk of
losing their lives as martyrs. This event is one of the historic
moments when the unity and determination of our nation were
tested.
From the initial moments of the coup attempt, the Turkish
government took action to restore order and bring the perpetrators
to justice. In the statements made by our President and state
officials during this process, it was revealed that the coup
attempt was carried out by an illegal group that had infiltrated
the Turkish Armed Forces outside the control of the command
staff.
It is now certain that FETO was behind the coup attempt. It was
revealed that the organization's ringleader, who lives in the
United States, carried out this treacherous conduct through his
parallel organisation within the state.
The victory was hailed as one of the noblest resistances not
just in Türkiye but also in the history of democracy around the
world.
Türkiye, which continues its struggle today, expects solidarity
from friendly and allied countries, especially in the extradition
of FETO fugitives and ringleaders who have fled abroad. While many
countries in the international community have expressed solidarity
and support for Türkiye, some of our partner's responses to the
coup attempt have been inadequate.
Türkiye was also dissatisfied with how the coup attempt was
reported in these countries' media. Internationally responsible
Western media outlets attempted to simplify the events of July 15.
They reported the bloody coup attempt against our country's
democracy using the awful phrase "a fight between two
factions."
After the terrible coup attempt on July 15, despite several
attempts for the extradition of the ringleader of the organization
based in Pennsylvania, no constructive answer has been obtained
from our partner, the United States. This attitude in reaction to a
threat to our democracy has upset us.
We are aware that FETO continues to operate in many different
geographies, including in our allied countries. We will continue to
battle this terrorist organization in all areas, as it endangers
the security of not only Türkiye but also all of the countries in
which it operates.
As a country that has further strengthened its democratic
institutions after the treacherous coup attempt, we will continue
our fight against the terrorist organization, which aims at the
lives of our citizens and the independence of our country in every
field.
We will continue to honour the memories of our citizens who died
on that terrible night by preserving Türkiye's freedom and
future.
Fahrettin Altun is the Presidency's Head of Communications
of the Republic of Türkiye.
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