It has been nine years since the night of July 15, 2016, when the Fetullah Gülen-led terror group (FETÖ) attempted to overthrow Turkey’s democratically elected government in a violent coup.
What unfolded that night was one of the darkest and most defining moments in the history of the Turkish Republic—yet it was also a night of unity, courage, and the people’s resolute defense of democracy.
The first alarm came at around 2:00 PM when a Turkish military officer visited the national intelligence agency (MIT) to report an impending coup. Immediate steps were taken to block unauthorized military movements, and flights from military bases were canceled. But it was too late—the plotters, realizing they were exposed, decided to move the coup earlier than planned.
By evening, high-ranking military officials, including Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar, were held hostage by rogue officers. A WhatsApp group named Yurtta Sulh (“Peace at Home”) was created to coordinate the coup. Orders like “Crush them, show no mercy” were sent—referring to civilians.
Cities Under Siege
Around 9:30 PM, soldiers from Kuleli Military High School began to move. Minutes later, tanks blocked the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul. In Ankara, fighter jets began flying low over the city as helicopters targeted MIT headquarters.
State broadcaster TRT was stormed, and a presenter was forced to read a coup declaration. Meanwhile, Atatürk Airport in Istanbul was taken over by tanks, halting all flights.
The People Rise
The turning point came when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, speaking via video call on national TV, urged citizens to take to the streets.
“Go to the squares,” he said. “There is no power above the will of the people.”
Within minutes, tens of thousands poured into the streets. They confronted tanks, blocked military bases, and stood in front of armed soldiers. In Istanbul and Ankara, civilians formed human shields to protect key buildings.
Mosques across Turkey began to broadcast salas—Islamic calls to prayer traditionally reserved for funerals—as a call to resist.
Heroes in Uniform and Civilians Side by Side
One of the most defining acts of resistance came from within the military itself. Staff Sergeant Ömer Halisdemir, a member of the elite Special Forces, fatally shot Brigadier General Semih Terzi — a key figure in the coup — at the cost of his own life. His action disrupted the coup’s chain of command and has become a symbol of military patriotism in Turkey.
Meanwhile, members of Parliament assembled inside the Grand National Assembly, even as it was bombed repeatedly by FETÖ-linked jets. Police special forces, loyal to the constitutional order, engaged coup plotters and helped retake strategic sites.
Even in the skies, loyal air force pilots from bases such as Eskişehir bombed the runways at Akıncı Air Base — the operational center of the coup — to prevent further launches of F-16s used by the plotters.
A Nation Stands United
Türk halkı, aşırı şiddet karşısında tek vücut oldu. Ülkenin dört bir yanındaki camilerden gelen salalar (ölüler için ezan okumaları), sembolik bir direniş çağrısı olarak gece boyunca yankılandı.
16 Temmuz sabahı, rüzgar tersine dönmüştü. Darbe liderleri tutuklandı, kaçırılan komutanlar kurtarıldı ve düzen yavaş yavaş yeniden sağlandı.
Democracy Prevail
More than 250 people were martyred that night, and over 2,000 were wounded. Their sacrifice ensured that Turkey’s democratic institutions would survive one of the gravest threats in its modern history.
In the years since, Turkey has continued to pursue justice against the perpetrators of the coup. Each July 15 is now marked as Democracy and National Unity Day — a powerful reminder that the will of the people, supported by loyal soldiers and citizens alike, can overcome even the most deeply rooted betrayal.
