Ankara/Anadolu

Turkish President in a speech in Ankara on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the failed coup attempt:

- Just as we saved Turkey 10 years ago with a spirit of brotherhood from the clutches of bondage, we will together and with unity of hearts, God willing, take it towards the future.

- The eyes of the world are still on Turkey, from Gaza to Lebanon, from Somalia to Syria, and from Arakan to Sudan.

- We will continue to fight this spy network (the Gulen organization) that eats away at the body from within like cancer cells until we uproot it completely.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Turkish state has enough strength to repel any threat targeting it.

This came in a speech he delivered on Wednesday at an event in the Turkish capital Ankara, marking the 10th anniversary of the failed coup attempt carried out by the Gulen terrorist organization in the summer of 2016.

President Erdogan added that the night of July 15, 2016, saw the spirit of the War of Independence rise again and demonstrated the greatness of the Turkish people.

He noted that the Turkish people, young and old, men and women, 'wrote a great epic' that night.

On another note, President Erdogan said that Turks abroad and other citizens in 'heartland' countries around the world showed solidarity with Turkey on the night of the failed coup attempt.

He stated that the oppressed and persecuted around the world look to Turkey with great hope, adding: 'We will not leave the field to those who resort to various dirty plots to extinguish this hope.'

Erdogan affirmed that Turkey will continue to extend a helping hand to every oppressed and tearful victim, from Gaza to Lebanon, from Somalia to Syria, and from Arakan to Sudan.

He went on to say: 'Just as we saved Turkey 10 years ago with a spirit of brotherhood from the clutches of bondage, we will together and with unity of hearts, God willing, take it towards the future.'

Erdogan warned that at this stage, 'everyone should realize that all avenues have run out for terrorist organizations and that hostility towards Turkey will lead nowhere.'

He continued: 'We will continue to support those waiting for the arrival of the Turkish Muslim with all our capabilities, and I ask our youth to always keep this fact in mind: Just as the world's eyes were on us ten years ago, they are also on us today.'

Erdogan stated that Beirut, Damascus, Aleppo, Tripoli (West), Tripoli of the Levant, and Sarajevo are watching Turkey today, as are the innocent children of Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.

He stressed that the oppressed and persecuted from the Middle East to the Balkans, and from the Caucasus to Africa, look to Turkey with great hope.

** Combating the Gulen organization

Erdogan also stressed that Turkey will continue to fight the Gulen terrorist organization 'patiently within the framework of the law until the danger is completely eliminated.'

He added: 'We will continue to fight this spy network (the Gulen organization) that eats away at the body from within like cancer cells until we uproot it completely.'

The Turkish president pointed out that the Gulen terrorist organization lost its balance and its hopes faded after the death of its leader Fethullah Gulen in the US state of Pennsylvania in late 2024.

He added that despite this, Turkey 'does not have the luxury of complacency in combating this malicious network.'

He noted the continued efforts to narrow the organization's areas of exploitation abroad and bring its fugitive members back to Turkey.

Erdogan affirmed that the authorities will not allow the organization to reestablish its presence within society through seemingly legitimate structures, and that they are monitoring its attempts to return to administration, politics, and business activities.

President Erdogan concluded his speech by praying for mercy on the martyrs of the failed coup attempt and wishing safety and health to those injured that night.