The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) attempted a coup on July 15, 2016, with its elements hidden within the Turkish Armed Forces and acting outside the military hierarchy. 253 citizens were martyred as a result of targeted fire opened with bombs dropped from warplanes, helicopters, tanks and guns. 2 thousand 196 people were injured. 34 coup plotters were killed in the clashes.
According to the records of the General Directorate of Security; 390 thousand 354 suspects, including those who took an active role in the field and gave the order, were detained. Across Türkiye, 289 lawsuits were filed against those who directly participated in the actual coup action, and all of these cases were decided by the first instance courts. 4 thousand 891 of the defendants were sentenced. While 1634 of them were sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment, 1366 of them were sentenced to life imprisonment, 1891 defendants were sentenced to various periods of imprisonment.
Although the July 15 coup attempt was implemented by high-ranking officers in the army, its planners and managers included Fetullah Gülen, the head of FETO living in the USA, and his imams in Turkey. FETO's expert staff in the police, judiciary and telecommunications fields were also assigned to play a certain role in the coup. If the coup attempt had been successful, it would have targeted not only the government system but also regime change.
Adil Öksüz, one of the figures at the top of the coup attempt, went to the USA before July 15, had Gülen approve the coup plan, and immediately returned to Turkey. Turkish people; The night of July 15, when Turkey came back from the brink of disaster, gave a lesson in democracy that will go down in world political history.
Although it presented its existence as religious values, helping people in need, and providing education support, its main purpose was to take over the administration of the country. FETO, which was very confident in its presence in the bureaucracy, wanted to have a say in politics and the administration of the country by taking this power behind it. However, seeing in the November 1, 2015 elections that his activities to influence politics did not result as he wanted, Fetullah Gülen took the decision to coup that day. The stones of the road leading to July 15 were laid in 8 months.
Diplomatic, legal and intelligence operations continue for the return to Turkey of members of the organization who fled abroad after the July 15 coup attempt of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). While the extradition of fugitives has been officially requested from more than 100 countries so far through the Ministry of Justice, the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and police forces, through coordinated cross-border operations, have brought more than 100 members of terrorist organizations, including so-called high-level officials, from more than 20 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa to Turkey and brought them to justice. MİT carried out a total of 1,710 operations against FETO in the last 10 years, while legal proceedings were taken against 6 thousand 906 members of the organization, 4 thousand 403 of these individuals were arrested and sent to prison.
Under the coordination of the Ministries of Justice and Internal Affairs, on the morning of July 13, the chief prosecutor's office of 81 provinces carried out operations against 968 suspects within the scope of investigations against FETO. The number of suspects detained within the scope of the operations was 704. Activities continue to capture 269 suspects.
On the other hand, the "10th Anniversary of July 15: Our Will, Our Victory Panel" was held at the Presidency Directorate of Communications. Director of Communications Burhanettin Duran sent a video message to the panel. Stating that the state and the nation carried out an epic resistance against the bloody coup attempt, Duran said, "The night of July 15, 2016 was a night that shaped the future of our nation in every aspect. We owe the victory of that night to the determined and independent political stance and leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan from the first minutes. Millions in Istanbul, our capital Ankara and many parts of Turkey heeded our President's call and took to the streets." "And the nation stood by its will. In our thousands of years of history, there is no captivity, betrayal and submission to despicable games. This historical mission was manifested once again on July 15."
"Today, we have erased the traces of the FETO structure from our state and country," said Duran, adding: "FETO members, whose extradition Turkey wants, are present in various countries and are literally supported. Our call to all countries that are friends of Turkey and want to mutually nourish and grow this friendship is this: We expect our friends to stand by us and act with a sense of loyalty against the structures that target our nation's sovereignty and democracy. Because FETO is a national concern that only concerns Turkey." "It is not a security problem. FETO is a clear threat to every country in which it operates."
Duran said, "Mainstream media narratives can overshadow the reality of societies. Therefore, we must be aware that we face the same problems even though we are in different geographies, and we must produce common solutions to global problems. Turkey's July 15 experience has a universal meaning in this respect."