Nine years ago, Türkiye experienced one of the darkest nights in its history, which also became one of its most heroic moments. The Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation (FETO), which had infiltrated the vital organs of the state for years in pursuit of its sinister agenda, launched a bloody coup attempt through its members embedded in the Turkish Armed Forces on the night of July 15, 2016, directly targeting the survival of our Republic, our constitutional order and our democracy.
As a result, 251 of our citizens were martyred, and more than 2,000 were wounded and became veterans. Thanks to the resolute leadership of our President, His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the courage of Turkish people, and the sacrifices of loyal officers of Turkish Armed Forces and Security Forces, this attack was repelled.
The coup attempt revealed the extent of FETO’s deep infiltration into the state apparatus. The organisation’s strategy began decades earlier, young people were trained to become loyal operatives. They were ordered to stay hidden and to infiltrate state institutions. This terrorist network leveraged state resources to build an extensive economic and political network, creating a covert structure even within the Turkish Armed Forces. The events of July 15 starkly illustrated how dangerous this organisation had become.
Over the past nine years since this treacherous coup attempt, Türkiye has waged a determined struggle against FETO without compromising the rule of law, in line with its Constitution and international obligations. The Turkish government has taken comprehensive legal, administrative and economic measures to remove the group’s presence from public institutions and civil society.
During this process, the solidarity shown by friendly and brotherly countries has left a deep and lasting mark on the hearts of the Turkish people. In particular, the visit of His Majesty King Hamad, who became the first leader from the Arab world to visit Türkiye following the July 15 events, remains for us an unforgettable example of solidarity and brotherhood. That meaningful visit is etched in our memories as one of the strongest symbols of the close friendship and shared values between our two countries. With this rare gesture of solidarity, His Majesty King Hamad won the hearts of the entire Turkish nation. On this occasion, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the people of Bahrain for their unwavering solidarity in all circumstances.
The fight against FETO remains one of the most critical pillars of our national security. Thanks to effective efforts, FETO’s operational capacity has been largely neutralised not only within Türkiye but also abroad. However, the organisation continues its efforts to survive through its networks overseas and operates under the guise of legitimate institutions in various countries. These structures exploit fields such as education, culture, civil society and humanitarian aid and in fact serve as strategic tools to maintain FETO’s global influence.
Combating such organisations, which pose a threat to the future of democratic societies, is not only Türkiye’s responsibility but a shared duty of the entire international community. This dark network, which exploits all the universal values respected by humanity for its own agenda, constitutes a security threat to every country and society where it operates.
In this regard, co-operation with friendly and allied nations is of vital importance. As Türkiye, we engage in close dialogue with our counterparts in countries where FETO is active and strive to build a shared awareness of the threat posed by this terrorist organisation.
FETO was designated a terrorist organisation by various countries and international bodies, including the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation and the Asian Parliamentary Assembly. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared FETO a terrorist organisation with the verdict rendered on December 28, 2018.
The death of FETO ringleader Fethullah Gülen on October 20, 2024, in the United States, without standing trial, has not led us to complacency. Our determination to fight FETO will continue unwaveringly until this treacherous organisation is completely eradicated. FETO still manages to infiltrate societies abroad and poison especially young minds with distorted narratives based on manufactured victimhood.
On the ninth anniversary of July 15, Democracy and National Unity Day, we remember with mercy, gratitude, and respect all our martyrs and heroes who fought for this cause, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our veterans.
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