On Saturday, Turkey remembered the victims of the failed coup attempt by the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) on July 15, 2016, which left at least 252 people dead and over 2,700 wounded.
On the seventh anniversary of the coup attempt, Turks around the country commemorated the victims.
Since its formal designation in October 2016, the nation has observed July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day, with ceremonies staged around the country to memorialise those who sacrificed their lives defeating the putschists and to remember the people’s fortitude.
The failed coup was conducted by FETO and its US-based leader, Fetullah Gulen, who left 252 people dead and 2,734 wounded.
Ankara also accuses FETO of orchestrating a long-running attempt to destabilise the Turkish state by infiltrating Turkish institutions, including the military, police, and judiciary.
The FETO coup attempt began about 10 p.m. local time (1900GMT) on July 15, 2016 and was foiled by 8 a.m. the next day.
In the face of the threat, the Turkish people demonstrated bravely to the rest of the world that they would not allow any attempt to subvert their will as expressed via their democratically elected government.