Presidency's Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran toured the "Will of the Nation, Victory of Democracy" digital timeline, prepared by the Directorate of Communications to mark the tenth anniversary of 15 July Democracy and National Unity Day.
Speaking at the venue, Head of Communications Duran thanked everyone who contributed to the digital timeline, which marks the tenth anniversary of 15 July and recounts the epic resistance of the nation, which responded to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's call by taking to the streets to defend the national will on a night when 253 people were martyred.
Stressing that 15 July was a watershed moment for the nation, Head of Communications Duran said, "The coup attempts of the past had, unfortunately, been successful. Yet, this time our nation stood firm by its elected leader and, upon our President's call, took to the streets and airports, and this great epic was written."
"We relived that night"
"Looking back today, we see that the great initiative aimed at advancing Türkiye's development, power, and prosperity, which we call the 'Century of Türkiye,' has come to fruition over the past decade,” Head of Communications Duran said and added that Türkiye has launched a staggering development initiative both at home and abroad.
Head of Communications Duran said they are commemorating the 15 July tenth anniversary with pride and honour under the theme "Will of the Nation, Victory of Democracy," noting that, upon the instructions of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the commemorative programmes have been coordinated by the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications.
Head of Communications Duran continued:
"Organised in cooperation with our Governorates, these activities in all 81 provinces with commemorative tents, including the one here at Kızılay, have attracted great interest from our people and our nation. We relived that night, commemorated our martyrs, honoured our veterans, and once again reinforced our collective memory of its significance to our nation. As you know, such attempts and the heroic resistance shown against them must not be forgotten. They must be passed on to our children and young people. It has become a lasting reminder of how deeply Türkiye cherishes its independence, how its people are prepared to lay down their lives out of love for their homeland, and how many brave and heroic people this nation has raised.”
"We began with 253 recitations of the Holy Qur'an in the Hagia Sophia"
"I extend my gratitude to our President, who has led us and who, today in our capital, at the Nation's Garden, once again set out Türkiye’s vision for the future and showed us the path forward," Head of Communications Duran said.
Head of Communications Duran noted that the number of projects coordinated by the Directorate of Communications, with the participation of all institutions, has exceeded 22,000 as of today and added:
"As you know, we began with 253 complete recitations of the Holy Qur'an in the Hagia Sophia in İstanbul. Our activities, which began with this complete recitation of the Holy Qur’an in honour of the cherished memory of our martyrs, continued with a bicycle tour and then a commemorative walk. This evening, we will continue with a drone and video mapping show over the Bosphorus, featuring projections on the Galata Tower and the Maiden’s Tower. These are only some of the activities we have organised to keep alive the memory of the epic of 15 July. In addition, the panels held across Türkiye and abroad, our efforts to communicate Türkiye’s fight against FETO to the international community, and the wide range of activities organised to mark the 10th anniversary of 15 July—all of which were embraced by every segment of society, from our universities to civil society organisations—continued with great dedication and enthusiasm. Over the past five days, numerous commemorative events have been organised within this framework. I hope that we have succeeded in holding a truly unforgettable 10th anniversary commemoration that will endure in our collective memory."
Providing information about the flower pin on his lapel, Head of Communications Duran said, “This pin was inspired by the ‘Love Flower’, an endemic flower native to Gölbaşı. This pin was created in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of 15 July. It was created as a tribute to our revered martyrs and as an expression of our respect for our veterans. I hope it will be received with appreciation by our nation.”
Meanwhile, the Presidency's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, shared a post on his NSosyal account about his visit.
In his post, Head of Communications Duran said:
"Today, we visited the 'Will of the Nation, Victory of Democracy' digital timeline, prepared by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications to mark the tenth anniversary of 15 July Democracy and National Unity Day.
15 July marks a historic turning point when the treacherous coup attempt targeting our nation’s will and democracy was thwarted through the leadership of our President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the heroic resistance of our noble nation. On that night, our nation defended its independence and future, demonstrating to the entire world that it recognises no power above its own will.
Unlike previous coup attempts in our history, on 15 July, our nation stood firmly behind its democratically elected leader and its democratic gains. In response to our President's call, millions took to the streets and airports, writing a great epic of democracy. This historic resistance demonstrated to the world the strength of the national will and the Turkish nation’s profound love for its homeland.
Through the commemorative programmes organised on the 10th anniversary of 15 July, we continue to honour the cherished memory of our martyrs and express our gratitude to our veterans. Through the programmes, panels, events and initiatives carried out at home and abroad under the coordination of our Directorate, we continue to pass on the meaning and legacy of 15 July to future generations.
It is of great importance to explain that FETO poses a threat not only to Türkiye but to every country in which it operates, and to strengthen the shared awareness of the need for a common struggle against terrorist organisations. Our experience of 15 July has once again demonstrated the vital importance of preserving collective memory in the face of disinformation, hybrid threats and attacks on democracy.
On this occasion, I remember with mercy the martyrs of 15 July and honour our heroic veterans with gratitude and appreciation. I also extend my sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the implementation of the activities carried out under the theme ‘Will of the Nation, Victory of Democracy.’”
