Ankara / Anadolu

Article by the Turkish president:

- The Turkish people shattered that night the chains that the coup plotters tried to impose on their will

- Turkish authorities managed to uproot the Gulen terrorist organization from the military, judiciary, and business sectors

- On the tenth anniversary of the failed coup attempt, Turkey has become stronger, more determined, and more united

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that July 15, 2016 was not just a day when a coup attempt was thwarted, but was 'a great democratic victory in which the Turkish people defended their will and independence with their souls'.

This came in an article written by Erdogan on Wednesday on the occasion of 'Democracy and National Unity Day' titled 'July 15: Turkey's Century Declaration of Independence', published in local newspapers.

Erdogan began his article by saying that 10 years have passed since that night when the Turkish people fought a fateful battle for their independence and future.

He added: 'That night, our honorable people, as they did during the War of Independence, gave a historic lesson to the imperialists and their collaborators who tried to occupy our homeland'.

He noted that the events of July 15 embodied the same spirit that characterized the heroes of the Battle of Manzikert a thousand years ago, the conquerors of Constantinople under Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror five centuries ago, and the heroes of the Turkish War of Independence a century ago.

** The people defended their independence

Erdogan said that his call for the people to take to the streets, squares, and airports on the night of the coup attempt was not just a passing call, but an expression of his confidence in the Turkish people's consciousness, courage, and foresight.

He added that he wanted to revive the slogan 'Either independence or death', one of the most sacred legacies inherited by the Turkish people from their ancestors.

He pointed out that the Turkish people shattered that night the chains that the coup plotters tried to impose on their will, and removed the obstacles in Turkey's path.

He reminded that 253 people were martyred and more than two thousand were injured while countering the coup attempt.

** Uprooting the Gulen organization

Erdogan stressed that Turkey has continued over the past ten years to fight the Gulen terrorist organization inside and outside the country without any leniency.

He stated that Turkish authorities managed to uproot the organization from the civil service, military, judiciary, business sector, and other fields.

But he also stressed that the battle is not over, adding: 'The only way to prevent the return of the Gulen organization or similar organizations from infiltrating the state and society is to keep the spirit of July 15 alive and pass this awareness on to future generations'.

** Unity of the people

Erdogan affirmed that the pains of that night are still present despite 10 years having passed.

He explained that on the tenth anniversary of the failed coup attempt, Turkey has become stronger, more determined, and more united.

He continued: 'As long as the spirit of July 15 is alive in this land, no one should doubt that the plots of traitors and the games of those behind them on the international stage will not succeed'.

At the end of his article, Erdogan prayed for mercy for all the martyrs who faced the coup attempt, and wished a long life to those injured that night.

He stressed that 'the greatest strength of this nation is its unity, solidarity, and brotherhood deeply rooted for a thousand years'.

Turkey witnessed in mid-July 2016 a coup attempt carried out by limited elements of the military affiliated with the Gulen terrorist organization, during which they tried to seize control of state institutions and its security and media organizations.

The Turkish government declared July 15 of each year as 'Democracy and National Unity Day', commemorating the 253 martyrs who were killed while countering the coup attempt.