Presidency's Directorate of Communications organised the "July 15: Türkiye's Victory of Democracy" panel in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.
The panel was moderated by Prof. Fırat Purtaş, Faculty Member at the Department of International Relations of Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, and attended by Assoc. Prof. Erman Akıllı, Faculty Member at the Department of International Relations of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, Italian writer Assoc. Prof. Valeria Giannotta and German journalist-analyst Klaus Jurgens.
Ambassador Yönet Can Tezel of Türkiye to Stockholm, along with numerous other guests, participated in the panel.
German journalist-analyst Klaus Jurgens stated that the unsuccessful coup attempt by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation (FETO) on July 15, 2016 was thwarted by the resistance of the Turkish nation. Jurgens stated that the Turkish people and government made history through their resistance to the coup attempt, and he drew attention to FETO organisation's presence in numerous nations, including Germany, Sweden, and South America.
FETO's presence in Germany
Jurgens said, "The FETO-affiliated association Frohsinn is active in Bavaria and southern Germany. It is a 30-year-old organisation that employed approximately 150 employees prior to 2016. The association operated a centre for adult education, a kindergarten, dormitories, and schools. Former Director of Integration for the City of Augsburg, Matthias Garte, acknowledged that they suspected an obscure network was behind these activities but that it was difficult to uncover it. Later, it was revealed that the FETO-affiliated organisation in question received 945 thousand euros of annual funding from the state of Bavaria. Between 2016 and 2020, 32 thousand Turkish nationals sought political asylum in Germany. Bavaria has 3,500 asylum seekers, the vast majority of whom are FETO members."
Assoc. Prof. Valeria Giannotta, an Italian writer, said that she was in front of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye in Ankara on July 15 during the FETO coup attempt.
Giannotta stated that everything was clearly demonstrated in the coup photographs and stated, "The Turkish people took to the streets and showcased their resilience by standing up to tanks, planes, and bombs. The Western world failed to comprehend the Turkish nation's victory of democracy. Certain reporters in Italy claimed that the coup was a hoax and that the government had orchestrated it. In reality, FETO conducted the coup incrementally. FETO muddled the Ergenekon and Sledgehammer trials after the December 17–25 judicial coup attempt. FETO had a hand in the downing of the Russian warplane, the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Ankara, and the Gezi Park Protests. It was a lengthy undertaking. The Turkish nation and government united and repelled the July 15 FETO coup attempt."
Assoc. Prof. Akıllı, a faculty member of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University's Department of International Relations, remarked that Türkiye's 100-year march towards democracy has been disrupted by coups, the most serious of which was the thwarted coup attempt by FETO on the evening of July 15, 2016.
Stating that the Turkish nation upheld democracy, Akıllı added, "Türkiye is a democratic country. The emergence of democracy in Türkiye was not a spontaneous occurrence. The Turkish nation achieved democracy by resisting coups. FETO attempted a coup and engaged in illegal activities to seize control of Türkiye. It caused the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians in the process. The FETO coup attempt was thwarted by the democratically elected government with the assistance of civilians, and this struggle was unprecedented."
Moderating the panel, Prof. Purtaş stated that the Turkish people's heroism, patriotism, and faith in democracy were what ultimately thwarted the coup attempt by FETO's supporters within the Turkish Armed Forces and security forces on the evening of July 15, 2016. Purtaş stressed that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had called the people to the squares during the incident, and that this invitation had given the Turkish people courage.
"Our state is still fighting against FETO with all of its might today"
Presidency's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun addressed the participants of the panel via video message.
Director of Communications Altun highlighted that they are now in the seventh year since the treacherous coup attempt by a group of Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation (FETO) members, who infiltrated the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), was foiled by the esteemed Turkish Nation.
Director of Communications Altun said that the Presidential Complex, which is the home of the nation, the Turkish Grand National Assembly, which represents the will of the nation, the Bosphorus bridges, and security and intelligence agencies were devastated with bullets and bombs from the nation's own arsenal on the night of July 15, 2016, exactly seven years ago, and continued:
"This nation began an unprecedented mobilisation in response to the betrayal it suffered on the night of July 15. People from all over the country flocked to the streets, avenues, and squares in response to the President's call, rendering their bodies as shields against this heinous raid. Our nation, led by our President, soundly defeated the July 15 tutelage supporters, coup plotters, and invaders."
Stating that on the night of the historical resistance, 252 martyrs marched to their deaths, defending their homeland from the traitors and members of the betrayal gang, Director of Communications Altun said, "We wish Allah's mercy on our martyrs, once again offer our condolences to their families, and express our gratitude to our veterans."
The "July 15 National Will and Democracy Exhibition," comprised of photographs captured by Anadolu Agency on the night of the coup attempt on July 15, 2016 and its aftermath, was also displayed at the panel.
