A panel titled "Upholding Democracy: The Power of Civil Resistance" was held by the Directorate of Communications.
The panel, moderated by Assoc. Prof. İsmail Çağlar, R&D and Project Coordinator of the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, featured speakers including AK Party Şanlıurfa Deputy Bekir Bozdağ, SETA General Coordinator Nebi Miş, the Chairman of the Presidency's State Supervisory Council, Salih Tanrıkulu, and journalist Hande Fırat.
Bozdağ stated that considering July 15 from a single perspective would always be incomplete, as it can encompass hundreds of different dimensions.
Stating that Türkiye is a country with a history marked by coups and has past experience in this regard, Bozdağ said, "Until today, up until the moment when the July 15 betrayal unfolded, we had not seen the same level of resolve from political parties, political powers, governments, or even presidents as we did from our President and Parliament."
Bozdağ recalled that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a message to the whole world and Türkiye via Hande Fırat on July 15, calling on the people to take to the streets.
Recalling Erdoğan's statement, "I recognise no power greater than the power of the people," Bozdağ reminded everyone that after President Erdoğan's call, citizens took to the streets and tried to stop the coup plotters.
Bozdağ, likening this to the War of Independence, emphasised that there would be numerous people following leaders willing to risk everything, and they would ultimately achieve their goals.
Bozdağ said, "The history of modern Türkiye is also a history of coups. In a way, the history of military coups is also the history of the media. July 15 was the product of a 360-degree communication campaign. If the late Menderes had challenged the coup, I have no doubt that this nation would have followed suit as well. If the late Demirel, Ecevit, İnönü, and other major political figures had taken the same stance on March 12, they would not have dared to write the memorandum, let alone send it to the Assembly."
Bozdağ stated that the nation, having seen President Erdoğan risk death, also risked death while lying under the tanks, emphasising that Türkiye came back from the brink of great disasters thanks to the will of the nation.
Bozdağ also pointed to the importance of the media on July 15 and said, "Almost all channels were united; they could not silence them. And they cannot be silenced. I wholeheartedly believe that pluralism works as insurance both in terms of ideas and in terms of broadcasting."
Bozdağ noted that a historic step was taken in Türkiye after July 15 under the leadership of President Erdoğan and said that Türkiye entered a period of reform after July 15, aiming to avoid the same problems in the future.
"We kept the public continuously informed"
Salih Tanrıkulu, Chairman of the Presidency's State Supervisory Council, provided information on the duties of the State Supervisory Council after July 15.
Providing information about the measures taken during the state of emergency, Tanrıkulu said, "We consistently followed a policy of open communication and kept the public continuously informed."
Tanrıkulu stated that proceedings were initiated against individuals on the grounds that they were affiliated with or had connections to FETO, and that the administrative commission reached a conclusion by reviewing each case individually within the framework of the rule of law, completing the process within a reasonable time frame.
Hande Fırat highlighted the duties of journalists in her speech.
Fırat stated that while journalists were impartial, she also had loyalties as a human being, mother, and citizen and said, "When you examine its structure, you cannot see a religious community or an aid organisation there. This structure is a terrorist organisation that has been entirely set up by an intelligence agency. It is very clear."
Hande Fırat recounted what happened that night and how she got in touch with President Erdoğan.
SETA General Coordinator Nebi Miş pointed out that FETO used all the methods used in past coups.
Miş stated that FETO also attempted to carry out an invasion using terrorist methods, adding, "The perpetrators and supporters were not only from within but also from outside, working together with the patrons of FETO."
Miş said that coups around the world follow certain stages and that FETO attempted to overthrow the government through undemocratic means prior to July 15.
Noting that a significant portion of the media faced a major test on July 15, Miş remarked, "July 15 is not just a coup attempt. It was an attempted occupation carried out using terrorist methods by a terrorist organisation that had been organising within the state for over 40 years with deviant objectives to overthrow the elected government and seize control of the state."
A total of 200 journalists participated in the programme, including 81 journalists from Türkiye's 81 provinces and 119 foreign press members invited from 41 countries.
