Turkish Maarif Foundation organized a visit event to the Memory 15 July Museum with students from 12 countries within the scope of the "Intercontinental Loyalty to 251 Martyrs from 251 Education Students" program.
Visitors participating in the program first prayed at the July 15 Martyrs' Monument. Here, Togolese student Ibrahim Abbasa, who came first in the world in the International Students' Holy Quran Reading Competition, recited the Holy Quran.
In his speech about the program, Turkish Maarif Foundation President Mahmut Mustafa Özdil said that they came together with the employees, managers and students of the foundation in the most meaningful place on the anniversary of July 15.
Reminding that the establishment process of the Turkish Maarif Foundation started shortly before the coup attempt, Özdil stated that they faced a very important test in Turkey's history before the foundation started its activities, and that the coup attempt was prevented by the people's opposition.
Stating that among the issues discussed after July 15, the schools established abroad by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which carried out the coup attempt, to mask its real activities, Özdil said, "For the Turkish Maarif Foundation, this issue brought about the necessity of assuming another responsibility. How will this issue be resolved without the young people and children who receive education in these schools and who are not related to this issue in any way being harmed? This responsibility has been added to the Turkish Maarif Foundation. We, as the Foundation, "We were faced with the task of taking over and rehabilitating the schools and carrying out this task during the founding years." he said.
Özdil said, "At the point we have reached today, alhamdulillah, this duty has been fulfilled to a great extent. We have seen with our own eyes that these schools were designed as a completely random and cover-up activity, without any serious educational framework, which is completely opposite to the understanding that is wanted to be created in the public opinion. Therefore, strengthening these schools both administratively, financially, legally and academically has emerged as a priority for us. While this is being done, our teachers who work in these schools and who have no connection with this structure, are trained in these schools. "Alhamdulillah, this work had to be completed with great success at the end of 10 years, without causing any harm to our children and the parents who entrusted their children to these schools because they are the only institutions of Türkiye." he said.
Expressing that they were happy to visit the July 15 Martyrs' Monument and the Memory July 15 Museum with the students studying in their schools, Özdil said, "Our children, who were educated in the schools we took over as the Turkish Maarif Foundation and grew up with the understanding of what it means to protect the country of memory and national will, today, on the 10th anniversary of the coup, they sang 253 hatim for the souls of our 253 martyrs. May God never bring our nation to such a place again." "May the souls of our beloved martyrs rest in peace. May God have mercy on them all." he said.
After Özdil's speech, Turkish Maarif Foundation Board Member Ahmet Türkben made the 253 hatmin prayer for the martyrs of July 15.
Visitors then visited the Memory 15 July Museum. Tuba Danış Ketancı, director of the museum, gave information to the visitors about what happened during the coup and the items and visual materials exhibited in the museum.
The program attended by students from Somalia, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Liberia, Chad, Cameroon, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Senegal, Togo, Azerbaijan and Kosovo was attended by members of the foundation's board of trustees, Prof. Dr. Zarife Seçer, Assoc. Dr. Zeynep Arkan, MD. Nazif Yılmaz, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Şimşek, board members Mustafa Çaltılı and Ali Çiçek also attended.