Ankara / Anadolu

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş said that the people threw the tradition of coups into the trash heap of history by foiling the July 15, 2016 coup attempt.

He made the remarks on Wednesday in the capital Ankara during an event marking the 10th anniversary of the failed coup attempt carried out by the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) in the summer of 2016.

Kurtulmuş described the night of July 15, 2016 as one of the most important nights in Turkey's history, noting that it witnessed a confrontation between "treason and bravery, between those who tried to stop the tanks with their bare chests and those who took shelter behind the weapons given to them by the people."

He added that the greatest legacy left by that night is the "victory of democracy and national will."

He continued: Since the late Ottoman era, through the history of the Republic, and especially during the multi-party period in Turkish political life, we have witnessed a series of coups that were an extension of the May 30, 1876 coup against Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz.

He stressed that the Turkish people "left their mark on the morning of July 15, 2016, and threw the tradition of coups into the trash heap of history."

Kurtulmuş concluded his speech by praying for the souls of the victims of the coup attempt, expressing his confidence that Turkey will continue on its path strong and united.

The ceremony included recitation of verses from the Quran and screening of video recordings from the night of the coup attempt, including President Erdogan's speech in which he called on citizens to take to the streets.

Turkey commemorates on July 15 every year the anniversary of the failed coup attempt that took place in 2016, which killed 253 people and injured more than 2,000, while Ankara accuses the Gülenist organization of being behind it.