A march and program to commemorate the martyrs was held in Esenler on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day.
Citizens gathered at the July 15 National Garden and walked to Dörtyol Square, carrying the 253-meter-long Turkish flag on their shoulders, with the names of 253 martyrs martyred in the July 15 coup attempt, accompanied by takbirs and prayers.
After the march, a program was held in Dörtyol Square to commemorate the martyrs.
Speaking at the program, which started with the reading of the National Anthem and the recitation of the Holy Quran, Esenler Mayor Mehmet Tevfik Göksu said that July 15 was not only a coup attempt, but also a historical milestone in which Türkiye was rebuilt and the will of the nation was shown to the whole world.
Göksu stated that July 15 was a "night of resurrection" and said:
"Today is July 15, a meaningful day when history left us with important things and taught us what humanity and civilization are. Today, brave people reveal their hearts, and when you ask what homeland is, 'This is what homeland is.' This is the day he said and recorded it in history. We said in this prayer square that we will gouge out the eyes of anyone who looks askance at these lands, and that the place we set foot on is not soil, but homeland."
Stating that July 15 was a great lesson, Göksu said, "First of all, we learned this. We learned about those who haunt this country, deceive people with God, and betray people's efforts, hearts, faith and belief. July 15 told us about new Çanakkale, new stories. On July 15, we learned what troubles can be eliminated if a nation and the state run in the same direction." he said.
"July 15 is not the first, nor will it be the last."
AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Abdullah Özdemir commemorated the 253 martyrs with mercy and gratitude and said, "July 15 is a struggle of our nation, which fought for independence with bare feet 100 years ago, against tanks with the same spirit, the same faith and the same will, with bare hands. On July 15, our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, brought himself to the squares, among his nation, and invited his nation to the airports and squares. "It's night." he said.
Noting that they continue to keep the spirit of July 15 alive at the highest level, Özdemir said, "Because we know that forgotten evil will be repeated. That's why we will not forget, we will not let people forget. July 15 was not the first, nor will it be the last. The ambitions of the imperial powers did not end on July 15. Their activities on our country and nation continue and will continue in different disguises, in different dimensions and with different apparatus." he said.
Özdemir stated that after July 15, the army, police and state institutions in Türkiye were equipped with national forces and said:
"Look, we were fighting terrorism for years. We were fighting PKK terrorism on mountains and slopes for years. But on July 15, we saw that half of our army's staff were members of the FETO terrorist organization. We expelled the PKK terrorist organization from our country, on mountains, on slopes, in caves, together with our army, which was cleared of them. We did not stop there, with the Euphrates Shield Operation and the Olive Branch Operation. "And with many operations, we have destroyed the corridor of the PKK terrorist organization outside the borders of our country. This struggle continues not only on the borders of our homeland, but also in our heartland."
Emphasizing that Türkiye has demonstrated its strong will in Karabakh, Libya and Syria, Özdemir said, "In a period when our President is at our helm, I pray that God will make us witness the relief of our Gazan brothers and the freedom of Jerusalem and make us happy." he said.
Making speeches at the program, Istanbul Deputy Governor Hasan Gözen and Esenler District Governor Süleyman Özçakıcı emphasized the determination of the nation against the treacherous attempt targeting the unity of Türkiye and wished mercy to all the martyrs and long life to the veterans.