By Yasin Gungor
ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye’s communications director on Sunday reiterated the country's dedication to combating global injustices and supporting the oppressed under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Türkiye’s Communications Directorate arranged a concert on Sunday to commemorate July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day – the anniversary of the July 15, 2016 defeated coup bid – in which renowned composer and pianist Fahir Atakoglu showcased his album 15 July Saga at the Istanbul Ataturk Culture Center.
Speaking at the event, communications chief Fahrettin Altun stressed Türkiye’s resilience in the face of efforts to undermine its sovereignty, denouncing the 2016 coup as a scheme by a terrorist group serving global exploitation interests.
He said Türkiye is now impervious to destabilization through terrorism and civil unrest and is dedicated to fighting global injustices and backing the oppressed under Erdogan’s leadership.
Altun said global powers aim to prevent Türkiye from exposing the truth about the Israeli massacre in Gaza, and from challenging the international system's disregard for genocide, war crimes, and massacres.
He vowed Türkiye will continue to steadfastly combat injustices within the global system for the innocent just as the nation stood up to the 2016 coup attempt by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), an instrument of global exploitation.
- Foreign media members visit 15 July museum
Foreign media members visited the Istanbul Memory 15 July Museum on Sunday, as part of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day events.
Museum officer Muhammed Yildiz provided insights to around 20 journalists from various countries.
The museum, which opened in 2019, features exhibits including the personal belongings of people who died in the coup bid and a vehicle that was shot in front of the General Staff building in Ankara.
Yildiz said the phoenix figures at the museum symbolize the nation's rebirth and explained the museum’s section on colonialism, depicting coups as modern colonial tactics. The visit included a presentation of a video summarizing the coup attempt to media members.
FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in which 252 people were killed and 2,734 wounded.
Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.
Turkish officials have requested that the US extradite Gulen – a resident of the US state of Pennsylvania – to face Turkish justice, but US officials have not granted the request.