A panel was organized by the Presidential Directorate of Communications in Berlin, the capital of Germany, on the occasion of July 15, Democracy and National Unity Day.
In the panel titled "National Will and Democratic Resistance: July 15 in its 10th Anniversary" held at the Berlin Embassy, it was emphasized that the July 15 coup attempt, which was a long and dark night for the Turkish nation, should not be forgotten.
Prof. from Ankara Social Sciences University. Dr. In the panel moderated by Mehmet Akif Kireçci, SETA Coordinator Prof. Dr. Nebi Miş, AK Party Kocaeli Deputy Radiye Sezer Katırcıoğlu and July 15 Coup Resistance Platform President Lawyer Mehmet Alagöz took part as speakers.
Türkiye's Ambassador to Berlin Gökhan Turan, ambassadors of different countries, representatives of the Turkish community and many guests attended the panel.
Stating that what happened 10 years after the July 15 coup attempt provides a better understanding of the great danger that Türkiye has overcome, Miş said, "If there is betrayal on one side of July 15, there is an uprising and resurrection on the other side." he said.
Miş explained that the young people who resisted the coup attempt put their lives on the line against the coup plotters. Drawing attention to the pain experienced by the families of martyred police officers, Miş said that the father of a martyred police officer said, "It is possible to be childless, but not stateless." He stated that his words summarized the spirit of July 15.
Stating that July 15 was a model for the world on how coups can be prevented, Miş said that Türkiye was late in coming to terms with past coups, and that is why FETO was able to infiltrate state institutions for nearly 40 years and attempt a coup in 2016.
Miş emphasized that disinformation and manipulation can spread easily and said, "Today, FETO members are carrying out disinformation activities in various countries, including Germany, claiming that they did not carry out July 15." he said.
Miş pointed out that the self-confidence of the society, the social awareness regarding the destructive consequences of the coups, the anti-coup attitude of the media and the transformation in state institutions were effective in the failure of the coup attempt on the night of July 15, and underlined that the most critical element was political leadership.
Miş pointed out that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's call to the public to "take to the streets" was decisive and said, "When you establish a relationship of trust with the society and when millions of people can take to the streets with your word, coups fail. Fortunately, they have failed in Türkiye as well." he said.
Call to "continue the fight against FETO without compromise"
AK Party Kocaeli Deputy Radiye Sezer Katırcıoğlu said that she was in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) on the night of the July 15 coup attempt and that the coup attempt failed thanks to the will of the nation to protect democracy.
Katırcıoğlu described the night of July 15 as "a very long and dark night for the Turkish nation".
Emphasizing that the MPs did not leave the General Assembly despite the bombing of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Katırcıoğlu said that three bombs hit the Parliament and then they took shelter for security reasons.
Katırcıoğlu emphasized that the Turkish Grand National Assembly is the symbol of the will of the nation and said, "That night, the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye became a veteran for the second time." he said.
Pointing out that July 15 should not be forgotten and the importance of accurately conveying what happened to future generations, Katırcıoğlu called for "the fight against FETO to be continued uncompromisingly."
"We also saw the July 15 cases as the nation's case."
President of the July 15 Coup Resistance Platform, Alagöz, said that they have been following coup cases for about 10 years and that approximately 300 lawyers have voluntarily undertaken the legal representation of martyrs' relatives and veterans so far.
Stating that Türkiye could not fully come to terms with the coups experienced in the past, Alagöz stated that the trials carried out after July 15 were a turning point in this regard.
Alagöz explained that on the night of the coup attempt, citizens took to the streets without carrying any weapons and showed resistance to protect the constitutional order, and said, "Our nation protected their homeland that night, and we saw the July 15 cases as the nation's case." he said.
Stating that a total of 289 cases were filed in 58 provinces, Alagöz stated that all hearings were audio and video recorded, so that the trials were conducted more smoothly.
Alagöz stated that a total of 8,725 people were tried in coup cases, 1634 of whom were sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, 1366 to life imprisonment and 1891 to term prison.
Underlining that a total of 4 thousand 891 defendants were convicted, Alagöz noted that 2 thousand 870 people were acquitted and it was decided that there was no need to punish 964 people.