site.btaTurkiye Marks Decade Since July 15 Failed Coup Attempt

Turkiye will mark on Wednesday the 10th anniversary of the failed coup attempt of July 15, 2016, with large-scale commemorative events. The events are being organized across Türkiye under the coordination of the Presidential Communications Directorate and the slogan "The Will Is Ours; the Victory Is Ours." 

Istanbul will host the largest commemorative march on Wednesday, with around 5,000 participants expected. The key point on the route will be The Bosphorus Bridge, also known as the July 15 Martyrs Bridge, which has been decorated with red Turkish flags. Flags and posters bearing commemorative slogans have also been placed at various locations across the metropolis.

Public transport in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir will be free on Wednesday for Democracy and National Unity Day.

The anniversary commemorates the thwarting of an attempted takeover that Turkish authorities blame on Islamic cleric Fethullah Gülen, who had lived in the United States since 1999 and died there in October 2024. Despite repeated demands from senior Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the US did not extradite him to Turkiye during his lifetime.

Turkish authorities have designated Gulen’s movement a terrorist organization under the name FETO. Thousands of people suspected of membership were imprisoned, and arrests of alleged members continue a decade after the coup attempt.

July 15, 2016, began as a cloudless summer day that gave no indication of the events to come. After nightfall, however, the quiet was shattered by gunfire, tanks and bombs.

Soldiers blocked the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, while military aircraft bombed Parliament in Ankara and the presidential compound. Many people were killed.

A group of soldiers stormed the headquarters of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation and forced a news presenter, under threat, to read a statement announcing that the military had seized power.

The events were an organized attempt by a faction of the armed forces to overthrow Erdoğan, who had taken office as president on August 28, 2014.

On the night of the coup attempt, Erdoğan was on holiday with his family in the southwestern resort of Marmaris. With the help of officials loyal to him, he returned to Istanbul and, shortly after midnight, called on the public from Istanbul Atatürk Airport to resist the military faction. 

His appeal, broadcast through the mobile phone of CNN Türk journalist Hande Firat, changed the course of events. The coup attempt was suppressed within 21 hours, although at the cost of many lives.

Unconfirmed reports later suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had close relations with Erdoğan at the time, had warned him about the impending coup. The reports were neither officially confirmed nor denied. 

Turkish media reported that the plotters had originally planned to launch the coup at dawn on July 16, but were forced by circumstances to bring it forward.

Official figures put the death toll at 253. The victims included Erdoğan’s media adviser Erol Olçok and his son, Abdullah Tayyip Olçok. A further 2,734 people were injured.

July 15 was subsequently declared a public holiday, Democracy and National Unity Day. The Bosphorus Bridge, which the plotters held for several hours and where people resisting them were killed, was renamed the July 15 Martyrs Bridge.

One important aspect of the events was the public determination demonstrated at dozens of large rallies opposing the attempted takeover. People from all sections of society and across the political spectrum took part.

The demonstrations became an expression of resistance to any future military intervention in a country that had experienced several coups in its recent history.

Much has changed in the decade since the attempted coup. Fundamental changes have been made to Turkiye’s system of government, Constitution and security structure.

The most significant was the transition to a presidential system. A 2017 constitutional referendum abolished the parliamentary system and introduced an executive presidency, granting broad powers to Erdoğan as both President and head of the Executive Branch. 

Analysts have also highlighted the diminished role of the military in politics since July 15, 2016.

According to figures published by Turkish media, at least 17,380 people suspected or convicted of involvement in the coup attempt were removed from the Turkish Armed Forces.

At least 150 of them held general officer ranks, representing more than 40% of the military’s generals. The figures indicate a major transformation of the senior command structure in a country where the armed forces had long been regarded as an important political power.

Following the transition to the presidential system, the General Staff was placed under the authority of the Defence Ministry.

Observers also believe the events of July 15 strengthened the presidency’s influence over the judiciary. Thousands of magistrates were dismissed after the attempted coup and replaced by new appointees.

Figures indicate that approximately 8,000 serving judges and prosecutors were appointed after the coup attempt.

July 15, 2016, also changed the balance in the media sector. During the state of emergency declared after the coup attempt was thwarted, more than 200 media outlets were closed by decree.

This further reduced the number of outlets capable of criticizing the government, according to a Freedom House report.