In Muğla's Marmaris district, the July 15 martyrs were commemorated with prayers and the participation of thousands of citizens.
The commemoration programs held in Marmaris district of Muğla, which is one of the most critical points for the 10th anniversary of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day and where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for democracy, continued until midnight after events that lasted throughout the day. In the programs attended by thousands of citizens, martyrs were commemorated with prayers and messages of unity and solidarity were given. The National Unity Cortege, which started at 20.00 in the evening in front of the Grand Yazıcı Turban Hotel, turned into a march with the intense participation of citizens, following the vehicle convoy. The cortege reached Atatürk Square and participated in the official program.
The official ceremony was held in Atatürk Square
The official commemoration program in Marmaris Atatürk Square started at 20.30 with a moment of silence accompanied by the Aksaz military band and the reading of the National Anthem. After the recitation of the Holy Quran, prayers were made for the martyrs. Muğla Governor İdris Akbıyık, provincial and district protocol, political party representatives, institution managers, families of martyrs, veterans and many citizens attended the program. Nihat Eker, father of Marmaris District Police Department police officer Nedip Cengiz Eker, who was martyred in the treacherous attack in Marmaris on the night of July 15, 2016, and Reşit Güler, older brother of deputy commissioner Gülşah Eker, who was martyred in Ankara Gölbaşı, also took part in the commemoration program. Speaking at the program, Nihat Eker, father of martyr police officer Nedip Cengiz Eker, gave emotional moments and said, "Traitors could not achieve their goals. May God never let this nation experience such a dark night again."
In his speech, Muğla Governor İdris Akbıyık emphasized that July 15 was a historical turning point in which the Turkish nation showed its will and love of homeland to the whole world, and said that the Turkish nation has not accepted captivity throughout history, and that the millions of people who took to the streets on the night of July 15 with the call of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan did not allow the coup attempt. Reminding that Marmaris was one of the most critical points where the assassination attempt against President Erdoğan took place, Akbıyık stated that the epic written by the 253 martyrs who lost their lives on July 15, especially the martyred police officers Nedip Cengiz Eker and Mehmet Çetin, is the common trust of the nation.
Emphasizing unity and solidarity, Akbıyık stated that the Turkish nation will find its unshakable stance against any attempt against the national will, and said that the spirit of July 15 will be transferred to future generations with the understanding of "Our Will, Victory is Ours". In the speeches, it was emphasized that the resistance of the nation on July 15 would not be forgotten, and the message was given that the legacy of the martyrs would be protected and the spirit of national unity would always be preserved. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's address to the nation was also shown to the citizens in the square via live link.
Within the scope of the program, poems explaining the meaning and importance of the day were read and a banner run was performed. While the folk song "Çırpındır Karadeniz" performed by Ayhan İmanov received great applause from the citizens, the show of the Mehter Band was also followed with interest. Video and film screenings about July 15 were also shown in the square. The commemoration program continued with the concert of artist Ahmet Şafak. At 00.13 at night, the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day commemoration events ended after the sela was recited from all mosques in Marmaris, as in Türkiye. - MUĞLA