Turkey: Video commemorates heroes of 2016 coup bid

By Merve Yildizalp Ozmen

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's Communication Directorate on Tuesday shared a video on the fourth anniversary of the 2016 defeated coup attempt.

"The Turkish people made history on July 15, 2016 by successfully thwarting a coup attempt. Together, we defended our democracy, independence and freedom. Four years later, we remember and honor our fallen heroes and veterans," Fahrettin Altun, head of Communications Directorate, said on Twitter.

The video, Milestone shows a young Turkish student studying abroad. He answers questions from his professor about the history of failed coup attempts.

The professor says: "According to an article, there have been 236 successful military coup attempts since 1950. In not one, did the unarmed public who were facing an asymmetric power imbalance, demonstrate a simultaneous civil act of will against the armed forces. Unfortunately, there has been no attempted coup in world history resisted and stopped solely by the nation itself."

The student informs the professor: "Until 15 July 2016. That night, the Turkish nation, old and young alike, were all united for democracy and the future of their country. They put their lives on the line, made history, and stopped the dark coup attempt.

"The Turkish nation made history that night. This is a milestone in the history of coups, and for democracy."

Turkey marks June 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day with events nationwide to commemorate those who lost their lives beating back the putschists and to remember the bravery of the nation.

A number of structures and public spaces were renamed in the immediate aftermath of the coup bid, most notably Istanbul’s Bogazici (Bosphorus) Bridge becoming the July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.