Thousands converged on the July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge in Istanbul for a rally marking Democracy and National Unity Day. Turkey marks the second anniversary of the defeated coup attempt, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured, on Sunday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan joined the rally at the July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge later in the evening and delivered an address.
Turkish president says nation feels "deep sorrow and immense pride at the same time" on 2nd anniversary of coup bid.
Erdoğan says the 2016 coup attempt is “the revival of Turkish nation”
Turkish president says nation has closed the chapter of coups, never to be reopened again.
The July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge, then called the Bosporus Bridge, was a flashpoint on the night of the coup, where 34 people were martyred, including prominent advertiser Erol Olçok and his 17-year-old son Abdullah Tayyip Olçok.
All but two of the martyrs were civilians; the remaining two were police officers.
July 15 marks the second anniversary of the defeated coup during which the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), a clandestine group which infiltrated state offices, especially the military, judiciary, civil service, and treasury, and tried to take over the government as well as attempting the coup in 2016.
The night of the coup attempt saw tanks closing down the July 15 Martyrs Bridge that connects Asia to Europe, and fighter jets and helicopters flying down over Istanbul and Ankara, in addition to the bombing of the presidential complex, parliament building, police and intelligence headquarters, while civilians came out to resist the coup.
