TUNIS/Anadolu

The Turkish Embassy in Tunisia on Wednesday marked the 10th anniversary of 'Democracy and National Unity Day,' which falls on July 15.

According to an Anadolu reporter, a photography exhibition was organized, supported by the office of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in Tunisia, featuring photos taken by Anadolu Agency photographers during the events of the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016.

The program was attended by Turkey's Ambassador to Tunisia Ahmet Misbah Demircan, along with embassy members, representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations, and a number of Turkish citizens residing in Tunisia.

The event began with a welcome speech, followed by a moment of silence and the singing of the Turkish national anthem, in memory of the martyrs of July 15.

Turkey witnessed in mid-July 2016 a failed coup attempt carried out by a limited number of military elements affiliated with the Gülenist terrorist organization, who attempted to seize control of state institutions, security forces, and media outlets.

The Turkish government declared July 15 of each year as 'Democracy and National Unity Day' to commemorate the 253 martyrs who died while resisting the coup attempt.

The attendees also watched a short documentary about the events of the night of July 15 and the popular resistance that foiled the coup attempt, as well as a screening of the live call made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on CNN Türk during that night.

In his speech, Ambassador Demircan said that July 15 represents an immortal democratic epic inscribed in golden letters in Turkey's modern history.

He added that the Gülenist terrorist organization targeted the Turkish state, democracy, national will, and constitutional order on the night of July 15, 2016, bombing the Turkish Parliament building, targeting state institutions, and firing at innocent civilians.

Demircan stressed that the decisive factor in foiling the coup attempt was the Turkish people's adherence to their freedom, independence, and state.

He noted that millions of citizens responded to President Erdogan's call and took to the streets in defense of the national will, regardless of their political affiliations, lifestyles, or beliefs.

Demircan explained that what happened that night was not merely the thwarting of a coup attempt, but constituted a historic turning point in protecting democracy, the rule of law, and the will of the people.