Nigerien official praises Turks' stand against coup bid

By Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Niger's parliament speaker on Monday praised the resolute stance of the Turkish people and youth against last year’s coup attempt.

In a meeting with Turkish parliament Speaker Ismail Kahraman, Ousseini Tinni recalled his government's condemnation on the deadly coup attempt by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

"I congratulate the Turkish people and youth on their resolution," said Tinni.

Referring to the thousands of ordinary Turks who took to the streets the night of July 15, 2016 to foil the forces of rogue coup soldiers, he said: "This is the first time in the world civilians disrupted a coup attempt by showing up themselves."

Tinni highlighted the vision and determination of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who urged Turks to take to the streets against the coup bid. "He disrupted this coup attempt while bringing together young people and all democratic powers."

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup attempt on July 15, 2016 which martyred 250 people and injured nearly 2,200 others.

Tinni also called for the strengthening of ties between the parliaments of Islamic countries.

"I am sure the Turkish parliament will do its part to unite the Islamic community more, and to provide much greater integration of the Islamic community."

Tinni said the Islamic community should work to achieve peace according to the vision of the holy Quran.

Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, with 1.6 billion adherents, or 23 percent of the global population, according to the Pew Research Center.

In the West African nation of Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, more than 98 percent of the population practices Islam.

After the meeting, Tinn and Kahraman signed a cooperation protocol between the two countries’ parliaments.