Commemoration programs were held in Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Şanlıurfa, Malatya, Adıyaman and Kilis on the occasion of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day.
His program in Gaziantep started with a visit to the 15 July Democracy Museum in İstasyon Square.
The program, which continued at the 15 July Democracy Square, started with the recitation of the Holy Quran.
In his speech here, Governor Kemal Çeber stated that some days are very special and said:
"July 15 was one of those days. We were subjected to the greatest betrayal that day, but we did not give up hanging our lives over the barrel and lying in front of the tanks. Today, we are not just commemorating a date here, we are talking about the rewritten destiny of a nation. We feel in our hearts once again what a nation can risk when it comes to its homeland."
Metropolitan Mayor Fatma Şahin noted that on July 15, the nation protected its homeland, flag and democracy at the expense of its life, and an unforgettable epic was written for the world.
In the program where President Erdoğan's speech was broadcast live on the screens, the young people ran the flag and handed over the flag to Governor Kemal Çeber.
In the program where artist Esat Kabaklı took the stage, hymns were listened to and sela was recited.
Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Major General Halil Şen, Provincial Police Chief Celal Özcan, institution directors, representatives of non-governmental organizations and citizens attended the program.
The martyrs' cemetery was visited within the scope of commemoration programs in Araban district. In the program held in Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Park, a moment of silence was observed and the National Anthem was sung.
The program continued with a cinevision show and a protocol speech and ended with a hymn recital.
The event, organized in Şanlıurfa, was held in Rabia Square.
The program started with the reading of the Holy Quran and the National Anthem, followed by prayers.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's speech was shown to those in the area via giant screens.
Şanlıurfa Governor Hasan Şıldak, Metropolitan Mayor Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar, Provincial Police Chief Atilla Aksoy, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Brigadier General Ali Naci Aldemir and other relevant persons and citizens attended.
Citizens gathered at Democracy Square in Kahramanmaraş with Turkish flags in their hands and walked to National Will Square.
The "Democracy Watch" event held in the square started with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem. Prayers were made for the martyrs during the program, where the Holy Quran was recited.
In the program, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's address to the nation was watched.
In his speech at the program, Kahramanmaraş Governor Mükerrem Ünlüer stated that the state, democracy and national will were targeted in the treacherous coup attempt on July 15, and said that the coup attempt failed thanks to the determined stance of the nation and security forces under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Ünlüer mentioned that July 15 will not only be an event that happened in the past, but is a great trust of democracy that should be passed on to future generations.
AK Party Kahramanmaraş Deputy Ömer Oruç Bilal Debgici stated that on the night of July 15, the nation did not give way to coup plotters, junta members and tutelage groups, and that Türkiye's fate was rewritten by the will of the nation.
Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fırat Görgel stated that July 15 is the symbol of the nation's epic resistance, and that citizens defended their homeland with faith and courage against tanks and weapons, and that it showed the world that the national will cannot be captured by any power.
After the speeches, the athletes who ran the "15 July Martyrs Banner Run" organized by the Provincial Directorate of Youth and Sports delivered the banner to Governor Ünlüer.
The event continued with a short film, a Janissary band concert, a Group Visal poetry recital, and odes and hymns were read.
The program ended with the prayer and the sela reading in all mosques in the city at 00.13.
Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Major General Ali Gemalmaz, 2nd Armored Brigade Commander Brigadier General Mahmut Sert, Kahramanmaraş Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Serkan Koçak, Provincial Police Chief Hasan Yiğit, Turkish War Disabled Veterans Martyr Widows and Orphans Association Kahramanmaraş Branch President Mehmet Ali Küpeli, district governors, district mayors and political party representatives attended the program.
The program held at the 100th Year City Park started with the reading of the Holy Quran and the National Anthem.
Malatya Governor Seddar Yavuz, AK Party Malatya Deputy İnanç Siraç Kara Ölmeztoprak, Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Sami Er made a greeting speech.
2nd Army Regional Band Command, İnönü University Mehter Band sang marches.
The program was attended by 2nd Army Commander Lieutenant General Zorlu Topaloğlu, Provincial Police Chief Kayhan Ay, Deputy Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Gendarmerie Colonel Ahmet Erekici, İnönü University Rector Prof. Dr. Nusret Akpolat, Rector of Malatya Turgut Özal University Prof. Dr. Recep Bentli, AK Party Malatya Provincial Chairman Ali Bakan, MHP Malatya Provincial Chairman Turgay Şengönül, Yeşilyurt Mayor İlhan Geçit, Battalgazi Mayor Bayram Taşkın, representatives of public institutions and organizations and citizens attended.
The march, which started in Kilis in front of Hacı Cümbüş Mosque with the participation of protocol members and citizens, ended in Cumhuriyet Square.
Here, after a moment of silence and the National Anthem, the Holy Quran was read and prayers were said.
At the event, poems were sung by students.
Kilis Governor Ömer Kalaylı stated on July 15, 2016 that the Turkish nation wrote a historical epic.
Stating that the Turkish nation was one heart that night, Governor Kalaylı continued as follows:
"That night, every individual of our nation, whether male, female, young or old, stood shoulder to shoulder for their homeland, flag, independence and future, and stood as one heart against any initiative that extended to the national will. With the dignified stance it displayed, our beloved nation once again showed the whole world that there is no power above the national will. It has demonstrated one of the strongest examples of protecting democracy, the will to live independently and the love of the country."
AK Party Kilis Deputy Ahmet Salih Dal also emphasized that the night of July 15 was a heroic epic.
The show of the Mehteran band performed at the event attracted attention from the participants.
The event was attended by Garrison Commander Brigadier General Ersin Özbalcı, Deputy Mayor Cihan Çağlar Yaşar, 7 Aralik University Rector Prof. Dr. Zekeriya Akman, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Colonel Halil Coşkun, Provincial Police Chief Aykut Korkmaz, AK Party Kilis Provincial Chairman Serhan Diyarbakırlı and other relevant persons and citizens attended.
The program, held in front of the Kahta District District Governorate building, started with a moment of silence, the reading of the National Anthem and the recitation of the Holy Quran.
Speaking in the program, Kahta District Governor Muhammed Usama Soysal noted that July 15 was a historical turning point in which the nation stood up for its will and defended democracy and independence.
Mayor Mehmet Can Hallaç said that the coup attempt carried out by FETO on July 15 was eliminated thanks to the determined stance of the beloved nation and the strong will of the state.
The program ended with a hymn recital, reading of poems, watching President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's address to the public on the screen and heroic folk songs.
The district protocol, representatives of public institutions, representatives of political parties, members of non-governmental organizations and many citizens attended the program.
The cortege march started in front of Çelikan Government Mansion and ended in Cumhuriyet Square.
The program here started with a moment of silence, the reading of the National Anthem and the recitation of the Holy Quran.
Following the speeches of District Governor Özgür Pelvan and Mayor Mahmut Şahin, District Mufti's staff read hymns.