Distinguished
Ambassadors,
Esteemed Guests,
Members of the Press,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
And, our dear Kuwaiti friends,

I greet you all with sincere respect and gratitude.

Welcome to the commemoration event organized by our Embassy on the occasion of the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day. Thank you for joining us today.

I would also like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the people of Kuwait, who showed solidarity in the aftermath of the coup attempt.

This year marks the ninth anniversary of the treacherous coup attempt of July 15, 2016—one of the darkest nights in our recent history. The Fetullahist Terrorist Organization, or FETO, had deeply infiltrated our armed forces and key institutions, and attempted to overthrow the state by force.

They bombed our Parliament, targeted our President, and opened fire on civilians who took to the streets in defense of democracy—using the nation’s own weapons and vehicles.

That night, 252 of our citizens were martyred and more than 2,200 were injured.

However, what was meant to destroy our democracy only made it stronger. Millions of people took to the streets without hesitation. United across all differences, they stood beside our President and security forces and stopped the coup.

As the saying goes: “Every dark night has a bright dawn.” And the dawn that followed July 15, that day became a symbol of national resilience and determination.

Among the heroes of that night, one was Police Officer Zeynep Sağır, who served in this Embassy for three years. She was martyred during the bombing of the Police Special Operations Headquarters. May she, and all our martyrs, rest in peace. I also extend my gratitude to our veterans, whose sacrifices we honor today.

Dear Guests,

Every country has defining moments. For Türkiye, July 15 was one of them. This was not just a domestic coup attempt—it was the outcome of a long-term plan by a criminal network that had hidden behind the mask of religion and education.

For years, FETO built its power through deception—stealing nation-wide exams, infiltrating institutions, building parallel structures. Its aim was to control the state, not serve it.

After the coup failed, Türkiye took firm action. FETO’s network was dismantled, and its members were brought to justice. This difficult process restored institutional integrity and strengthened the people’s trust in the state.

It also enabled us to pursue independent policies in the political, legal, economic, and military spheres, in line with the vision of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Dear Friends,

We owe our people a great debt. Their courage protected our democracy and shaped our future.

FETO is not just a threat to Türkiye—it’s a threat wherever it exists. Our fight against this organization continues at home and abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our missions, including this Embassy, are fully engaged in this effort.

Distinguished

Participants,

Soon, we will watch video clips that bring back the memory of that night. We will remember how millions responded to the call of our President, filled the streets, and proved to the world that the will of the Turkish people cannot be broken.

As long as the spirit of July 15 lives on, no power can bring this nation to its knees. And those who seek to threaten our democracy will face a people ready to defend it.

With these thoughts, I once again remember all our martyrs with deep respect and pray for their souls. I extend my condolences to their families and to our nation. I bow before the memory of our veterans—the true guardians of Türkiye.

May Allah preserve our unity, strengthen our bonds of brotherhood, and protect our country from such trials again. Name of Victory is Türkiye.

Thank you.