Türkiye is marking the 10th anniversary of the failed July 15, 2016 coup attempt with nationwide ceremonies honoring those killed while resisting the putsch.
The commemorations are being held under the theme “Our Will, Our Victory,” with events planned across the country.
On July 15, 2016, a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces attempted to overthrow the government, deploying tanks and fighter jets in Ankara and Istanbul and targeting key state institutions, including parliament.
The attempt was defeated within hours after civilians took to the streets alongside security forces.
A total of 253 people were killed and more than 2,700 others were injured, according to official figures.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is scheduled to attend a commemorative ceremony at parliament before taking part in a separate evening event in Ankara.
The main ceremony in the capital is being held at a public garden under the auspices of the Presidency, with around 20,000 people expected to attend, according to organizers.
In Istanbul, thousands are expected to join a memorial march on the morning of July 15.
Participants will gather in Zincirlikuyu before crossing the July 15 Martyrs Bridge, where a memorial stands for those killed during the coup attempt.
The bridge, formerly known as the Bosphorus Bridge, was one of the main sites of violence that night.
Thirty-four civilians were killed there after soldiers opened fire on people trying to stop the coup attempt. The bridge was later renamed the July 15 Martyrs Bridge.
The anniversary program also includes a drone light show over the Bosphorus, a digital time tunnel in Ankara’s Kızılay district and an interactive “Memory Tree” installation in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district.
Museums in 54 provinces are expected to host exhibitions, remembrance ceremonies, panel discussions and events bringing together veterans of the coup resistance.
Turkish authorities say FETÖ, led by Fethullah Gülen, was behind the coup attempt and spent years infiltrating key state institutions, including the military, judiciary and government offices.
Gülen, who lived in the United States for more than two decades, denied involvement and government offices.
Gülen, who lived in the United States for more than two decades, denied involvement. He died in Pennsylvania in October 2024 at the age of 83.
In the aftermath of the coup attempt, tens of thousands of people were dismissed from public office or prosecuted as part of a nationwide crackdown on suspecte links to the group.
