At the panel titled "National Will and Democratic Resistance: 15 July on its 10th Anniversary" held at the Embassy of Turkey in Berlin, it was emphasized that the July 15 coup attempt, a long and dark night for the Turkish nation, should not be forgotten.

The panel, moderated by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Akif Kireçci from Ankara Social Sciences University, featured SETA Coordinator Prof. Dr. Nebi Miş, AK Party Kocaeli Deputy Radiye Sezer Katırcıoğlu, and Head of the July 15 Coup Resistance Platform, Lawyer Mehmet Alagöz, as speakers.

The panel was attended by Turkey's Ambassador to Berlin Gökhan Turan, ambassadors from various countries, representatives of the Turkish community, and numerous guests.

Panel on "National Will and Democratic Resistance: 15 July on its 10th Anniversary" held in Berlin


Miş stated that the events experienced 10 years after the July 15 coup attempt allow for a better understanding of the great danger Turkey overcame, saying, "If there was betrayal on one side of July 15, there was also an uprising and resurrection on the other."

Miş described how the youth who resisted the coup attempt stood against the putschists by risking their lives. Drawing attention to the pain experienced by the families of martyred police officers, Miş stated that the words of a martyred police officer's father, "One can live without a child, but not without a homeland," summarized the spirit of July 15.

Miş said that July 15 serves as a model for the world on how coups can be prevented, adding that Turkey was late in confronting its past coups, which is why FETÖ was able to infiltrate state institutions for about 40 years and attempt a coup in 2016.

Miş emphasized that disinformation and manipulation can spread easily, stating, "Today, FETÖ members are carrying out disinformation activities in various countries, including Germany, claiming that they did not carry out July 15."

Panel on "National Will and Democratic Resistance: 15 July on its 10th Anniversary" held in Berlin


Miş pointed to the public's self-confidence, societal awareness of the destructive consequences of coups, the media's anti-coup stance, and the transformation within state institutions as effective factors in the failure of the coup attempt on the night of July 15, underlining that political leadership was the most critical element.

Miş highlighted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's call for the public to "take to the squares" as decisive, saying, "Coups fail when you establish a relationship of trust with the public and millions of people can take to the streets with your word. Fortunately, they failed in Turkey."

Panel on "National Will and Democratic Resistance: 15 July on its 10th Anniversary" held in Berlin


Call for "uncompromising continuation of the fight against FETÖ"

AK Party Kocaeli Deputy Radiye Sezer Katırcıoğlu said that she was in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) on the night of the July 15 coup attempt and that the coup attempt was thwarted thanks to the nation's will to protect democracy.

Katırcıoğlu described the night of July 15 as "a very long and dark night for the Turkish nation."

Katırcıoğlu emphasized that despite the bombing of the TBMM, the deputies did not leave the General Assembly, recounting that three bombs hit the Parliament and they later moved to a shelter for security reasons.

Katırcıoğlu stressed that the TBMM is a symbol of the nation's will, stating, "On that night, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey became a veteran for the second time."

Katırcıoğlu pointed to the importance of not forgetting July 15 and accurately conveying what happened to future generations, calling for the "uncompromising continuation of the fight against FETÖ."

Panel on "National Will and Democratic Resistance: 15 July on its 10th Anniversary" held in Berlin


"We also saw the July 15 cases as the nation's cases"

Head of the July 15 Coup Resistance Platform, Alagöz, said that they have been following the coup cases for about 10 years and that approximately 300 lawyers have voluntarily undertaken the legal representation of the relatives of martyrs and veterans to date.

Alagöz stated that Turkey has not fully come to terms with past coups, and the trials conducted after July 15 are a turning point in this regard.

Alagöz described how citizens took to the squares on the night of the coup attempt without carrying any weapons and resisted to protect the constitutional order, saying, "Our nation protected its homeland that night, and we saw the July 15 cases as the nation's cases."

Panel on "National Will and Democratic Resistance: 15 July on its 10th Anniversary" held in Berlin


Alagöz reported that a total of 289 cases were filed in 58 provinces, and all hearings were recorded with audio and video, thus ensuring healthier judicial proceedings.

Alagöz stated that a total of 8,725 individuals were tried in the coup cases, of whom 1,634 were sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, 1,366 to life imprisonment, and 1,891 to fixed-term prison sentences.

Alagöz underlined that a total of 4,891 defendants were convicted, while 2,870 individuals were acquitted, and decisions of no penalty were made for 964 individuals.