Ambassador d. Aisha Hilal Sayan Koettak
Nine years ago, the Turkish Republic witnessed one of the darkest nights in its history, but that same night also entered history as one of the greatest struggles of the Turkish nation. Today, in order to be more effective in combating global terrorism, it is necessary to understand the nature of this treacherous coup attempt and the national mobilization launched by the Turkish people to prevent it.
The terrorist organization Fathallah Gulen (Vito), which penetrated the vital states of the state for years in line with its malicious ambitions, has tried to make a bloody coup on the night of July 15, 2016, directly targeting the survival of our republic, our constitutional system and our democracy through its penetrating elements in the Turkish armed forces. Confessions and information from within the organization revealed that the July 15 coup attempt was arranged by Gulen terrorist organization.
These individuals, who have infiltrated the Turkish armed forces over many years, have targeted the main state institutions in an unprecedented parade of violence. The members of this militant terrorist organization have reached the point of bombing the large Turkish National Assembly, the presidential complex, the headquarters of the National Intelligence Service and the Police Special Operations Center in Ankara.
As a result, 251 of our citizens were martyred, more than two thousand citizens were wounded, and they became ancient warriors. This heinous coup attempt in history has been recorded as one of the most despicable attacks not only in Türkiye, but in modern democracies.
Thanks to the decisive leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the courage of the Turkish people and the sacrifice of members of the armed forces and the Turkish security forces themselves, this attack was repelled. The Turkish people have expressed a firm will to defend democracy, even if that cost them their lives.
The coup attempt revealed the extent of Gulen’s terrorist penetration into state agencies. However, the crimes committed on the night of July 15 can be considered the top of the iceberg. The organization’s strategy has started decades ago by establishing schools and preparatory academies designed to wash the brains of students under the guise of education.
Young people were trained to become loyal agents, ignoring moral, legal and democratic principles in favor of loyalty to the leadership of the organization. Many of them were able to enter state institutions by illegal means, including stealing exam questions. They were ordered to remain disguised and infiltrated to state institutions. As for those who stood on the path of organization, they were deported through intrigue and false allegations.
As the organization gained influence and wealth, it began to interfere in trade relations, engage in money laundering operations on a large scale, and routinely committed financial crimes. Once the Turkish government realized the true nature of these activities, the Gulen Organization resorted to increasingly extremist and aggressive tactics.
The first major incident occurred in December 2013, when the organization released a series of alleged audio recordings and forged documents. Although this first attack failed to achieve its goals, it was a turning point for both the government and the public.
With their confidential communication tools (such as Payluk, Eagle, Tango, and others) detected their internal messages, efforts began to confront the group’s operations and reveal the depth of its penetration and damage.
In short, the Gulen terrorist organization has established a large -scale economic and political network through the use of state resources and formed a secret structure even within the Turkish armed forces. The events of July 15 have clearly demonstrated the seriousness of this organization.
July 15th of democracy and national unity, not only symbolizes a coup attempt, but also symbolizes a sacred victory for popular and democracy. This day represents a firm response to the enemies of democracy. That night that night, the Turkish people resisted that night against tanks, planes and weapons only with their bare hands and hearts, and defended their free will, their future, their knowledge and their republic.
During the nine years that followed the treacherous coup attempt, Türkiye continued its firm struggle against the terrorist organization Gulen in line with its constitution and international obligations, without prejudice to the rule of law. The Turkish government has taken large legal, administrative and economic measures to remove the presence of the organization from public institutions and civil society. On the internal level, these efforts focused on three main areas: ensuring that the perpetrators of the coup hold accountable in the courts, to cleanse the organizational structure of the Gulen terrorist organization from state institutions, and to hinder the organization’s activities in areas such as education, media and financing.
Each element of the Gulen terrorist organization, which infiltrated public institutions, was subjected to justice, and social, economic and international networks of the organization have been dismantled.
The solidarity shown by friendly and brotherly countries during this period left deep and permanent effects on the hearts of the Turkish people. The visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, is still the first leader from the Gulf and the Arab world to visit Turkey after July 15, an unforgettable example of solidarity and brotherhood for us. This meaningful visit is engraved in our memory as one of the most powerful friendship symbols and common values between the two countries. With this rare solidarity gesture, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, won the hearts of the entire Turkish nation.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and the people of Bahrain for their permanent solidarity in all circumstances.
The Gulen terrorist organization is still one of the most important pillars of our national security. Thanks to the effective efforts made, the operational capacity of the Gulen terrorist organization was neutralized not only in Türkiye, but also abroad. However, the organization continues efforts to survive through its networks abroad and operate in various countries under the guise of legitimate institutions. These structures use areas such as education, culture, civil society and humanitarian aid, and they are actually as strategic tools to preserve the influence of the organization in the world.
Combating such organizations, which pose a threat to the future of democratic societies, is not only the responsibility of Türkiye, but also a common duty for the entire international community. Ultimately, terrorism does not recognize any language, religion, race or geography. This black network, which uses all global values that humanity respects for its own purposes, is a security threat to every country and society in which it works.
In this context, cooperation with friendly and allied countries is of vital importance. As Turkey, we are conducting a close dialogue with our counterparts in the countries where the Gulen terrorist organization is active, and we are trying to create a common awareness about the threat posed by this terrorist organization. In this struggle, important steps were taken such as the closure of schools related to the Gulen terrorist organization and their transfer to the cessation of Turkish knowledge, the handing over of the Gulen terrorist organization and the start of judicial procedures.
Various international countries and organizations have announced that the terrorist organization Gulen is a terrorist organization. In this context, Gulen was announced a terrorist organization at the forty -third session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held on October 19, 2016; A similar decision was also taken in the Asian Parliamentary Society on December 1, 2016 and was approved at the twelfth conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on January 27, 2017. In addition to the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, the Pakistani Constitutional Court also announced that the Gulen terrorist organization is a terrorist organization by its decision issued on December 28, 2018.
The death of the Gulen terrorist leader, Fathallah Gulen, on October 20, 2024, in the United States of America without trial, did not deny it. Our intention to fight the Gulen terrorist organization will continue, without even shaking its elimination permanently. One of our basic responsibilities in this battle, undoubtedly, is to explain to the world the legitimacy of our struggle. Gulen terrorist organization still infiltrates societies abroad, and poisoning, especially young people, with distorted narratives based on deceiving victims.
On the ninth anniversary of July 15th, the day of democracy and national unity, we remember with all kindness, gratitude and respect for all our martyrs and heroes who have fought for this issue, and we extend our sincere appreciation to our old warrior. We reaffirm our fixed position against any entity or mentality that seeks to weaken our democracy, our republic and the unity of our nation.
* The Ambassador of the Turkish Republic
