In the "15 July Awareness on its 10th Anniversary" panel held at Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University, FETO's current structure, religious exploitation methods and the importance of passing on 15 July to future generations were discussed. Rector Prof. Dr. I. While Yaşar Hacısalihoğlu emphasized that FETO is "a structure that can take any form in any environment it enters", journalist Nedim Şener said, "Apprehension was taken against approximately 900 FETO suspects in 81 provinces. This threat still continues."
'July 15 Awareness' panel was organized by Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University, Dr. Azmi Ofluoğlu, Rector of Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University, Prof. Dr. I. Yaşar Hacısalihoğlu, Journalist Nedim Şener, Academician-Journalist Bedreddin Habiboğlu, as well as Zeytinburnu District Governor Adem Uslu, Beyoğlu District Governor Abdullah Atakan Atasoy, protocol guests, academicians and students attended. The panel discussed the fight against FETO, religious abuse, preservation of social memory and raising awareness of July 15 among young generations.
"July 15 is one of the last major attacks targeting Türkiye."
Stating that July 15 was one of the most important turning points in Türkiye's recent history, Prof. Dr. Hacısalihoğlu said, "These lands have been the scene of great struggles throughout history. The spirit of Çanakkale, the National Struggle and the Kuva-yi Milliye spirit are actually reflections of the same resistance in different periods. July 15 is one of the last major attacks targeting Türkiye. They failed that night, and they will not succeed from now on."
Stating that the FETO threat is not completely over, Prof. Dr. Hacısalihoğlu said, "The terrorist organization behind July 15 and the global focuses that support it continue to exist through different methods, even if the leader of the organization has disappeared. As a matter of fact, in the statement made by our state today, it was announced that simultaneous operations were carried out against the new secret structure of the organization. This shows that the threat is not completely over."
Drawing attention to the organization's strategy of infiltrating different structures, Prof. Dr. Hacısalihoğlu stated that FETO cannot be defined through a single political structure and said, "This organization, unlike other terrorist organizations, is a structure that can hide in all kinds of political and social identities that take the shape of any container it enters. Their aim is to gain control by infiltrating whatever structure is gaining power."
Emphasizing that the goal of the night of July 15 was to take over the state administration, Prof. Dr. Hacısalihoğlu said, "They made an intense effort to locate our President that night. The aim was to kill our President and create an environment of chaos in the country and attempt an invasion.
However, it was this nation that turned the darkness of that night into light. "Patriotic soldiers, police officers and security forces within the Turkish Armed Forces and Police Department acted together with the nation and prevented this treason."
At the end of his speech, Prof. Dr. Hacısalihoğlu said, "It is our common responsibility not to forget July 15, not to let it be forgotten, and to convey it correctly to future generations."
Nedim Şener: "FETO threat continues"
Journalist Nedim Şener stated that FETO should not be evaluated only with the members of the organization and said that the organization tries to maintain its influence through different structures.
Şener said, "In addition to the existence of FETO, there are also structures that the organization has infiltrated and hides itself in different ways. While there are structures that portray themselves as religious, there are also organizations that take FETO's methods as an example. I think there are still structures within the state that make similar calculations."
Stating that no one's belief can be questioned, but using state power on behalf of any group is unacceptable, Şener said, "We cannot object to anyone's sect, community, belief or disbelief. However, using the state's power or directing the state on behalf of any group is unacceptable."
Referring to the recent operations, Şener said, "In just one day, approximately 900 FETO suspects were taken in 81 provinces. The detection of so many people in one day shows that the threat of the organization still continues. We also see that the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a detention order for 80 police personnel, 70 of whom are on active duty."
Stating that the society still sees FETO as a serious threat, Şener said, "Even though 10 years have passed, most of the society still sees FETO as a serious threat. When asked whether PKK is a threat, there may be different rates; but when it comes to FETO, a large part of the society agrees that it is a serious threat."
"Religious abuse was one of FETO's most powerful methods"
The issue of religious abuse was also touched upon in the panel. Bedreddin Habiboğlu emphasized that the fight against FETO should not be handled only in terms of security, and stated that the organization has influenced people by exploiting religious references.
Bedreddin Habiboğlu said, "We should not look at the issue only from a security perspective. The main issue that needs to be emphasized is that a person cannot realize the mistake he made even after 10 years and still continues to believe in the same structure."
Pointing out that the Holy Quran is a divine reference, Bedreddin Habiboğlu said, "Not a single letter of the Holy Quran has been changed. However, throughout history, we see that some people have distorted the meaning of the verses and interpreted them differently in order to strengthen their own position. This was one of the most powerful methods used by FETO."
Bedreddin Habiboğlu lastly said:
"The Holy Quran is a divine guide that appeals to all periods and answers people's questions. If you try to understand and live it as taught by the Prophet, it will be a guide for both your life in this world and the hereafter. However, if you try to interpret it according to your own thoughts, ideology or position, this will harm both the individual and the society. The fact that we are still discussing these today shows that we are faced with an important problem that we need to think about." - ISTANBUL