Photo exhibit on abortive coup in Turkey opens in US

By Esra Kaymak Avci

WASHINGTON (AA) – An Anadolu Agency exhibition of photographs taken during the recent failed coup attempt in Turkey went on display Friday here at the Turkish embassy.

Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag officially opened the exhibit before a reception for the Turkish Republic's 93rd anniversary on Oct. 29.

The "July 15 Rise of National Will" exhibit shows approximately 20 chronological images taken by Anadolu Agency photojournalists that revealed what happened on the night of July 15 and thereafter.

More than 240 people were martyred and in excess of 2,100 injured during the putsch attempt, leading to a nationwide probe to eliminate Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) sleeper cells that had infiltrated state institutions, including the judiciary and army, according to the Turkish government.

Fetullah Gulen, the ringleader of FETO and alleged mastermind behind the overthrow attempt, has been living in Pennsylvania since 1999.

Bozdag congratulated Anadolu Agency for the exhibition and said the images would help everyone understand what really happened.

According to the minister, the timing of the exhibition was historic as it came on the anniversary of the modern Turkish Republic.

He also praised Sgt. Omer Halisdemir, a martyr who became the symbol of the Turkish nation's uprising against the putsch. Halisdemir killed one of the coup-plotters outside of the headquarters of the special forces command in Ankara. Bozdag said the Turkish flag continued fly freely thanks to national heroes like Halisdemir.

Turkey's Ambassador to the U.S. Serdar Kilic said the exhibit would serve to show the reality of July 15 not only to ordinary people but also to decision makers in Washington DC.

Justice and Development (AK) party's parliamentarian Hakki Koylu told Anadolu Agency that the exhibition was be very important in terms of telling July 15 to Turkish citizens living in the U.S. who were not there to witness the night in person.

The main opposition Republican People's party's (CHP) parliamentarian Omer Suha Aldan thanked Anadolu Agency for the photosgraphs and added that the exhibition successfully reflected the night of the cop attempt.

Turkey's National Movement party's (MHP) parliamentarian Ismail Faruk Aksu said the images clearly showed the coup plotters failure to fetter Turkish democracy that night due to the bravery of the Turkish nation.