Europe15 July, 20263 min read
Turkish Embassy in Washington Marks 10th Anniversary of 2016 Coup Attempt by FETO Operatives
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Türkiye marked the 10th anniversary with nationwide ceremonies and memorial events across 81 provinces. Ceremonies honored those killed while resisting the 2016 coup.
Commemorations in Washington
The Turkish Embassy in the United States hosted a commemoration ceremony marking the tenth anniversary of the defeated 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye, where “millions of citizens took to the streets unarmed to resist the violent takeover orchestrated by the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).” Turkish Ambassador to the US Sedat Onal said, “Almost 10 years ago today, the treacherous terrorist organisation, FETO, tried to topple the elected government,” and added that Türkiye has made “substantial progress” in diminishing and dismantling the terror organisation.
Hulusi Akar, chairman of the Turkish Parliament's National Defense Committee, said the day was important to remember the heroes, stressing Ankara's objective is a “terror-free Türkiye.” Oussama Jammal, secretary-general of the US Council of Muslim Organizations, said he is “deeply honoured” to stand with the Turkish people, while congressman Joe Wilson in a video message said the day honours the “courage and resilience” of those who stood in the defence of their nation's democratic institutions.
Erdogan vows continued fight
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Türkiye would continue its fight against the FETO terrorist organization until the threat was completely eliminated, warning against complacency despite what he described as declining morale within the group following the death of its leader. Speaking during the “10th Year of July 15: The Will Is Ours, The Victory Is Ours” program at Baskent Millet Bahcesi, Erdogan told citizens, “As long as FETO exists, the fight against FETO will also continue,” and said Türkiye would combat the organization “patiently and within the framework of the law.”
Erdogan said authorities would pursue the group’s “crypto elements” carefully and that police, judiciary and intelligence services were carrying out their duties with “the precision of a surgeon,” while taking maximum care to distinguish between those who were guilty and those who were innocent. He also highlighted Türkiye’s efforts abroad to reduce areas the organization could exploit, pointing to the Türkiye Maarif Foundation that operates 543 educational institutions in 66 countries, and said the state would not allow FETO to regain a foothold in society through structures that appeared legitimate.
Mosques, unity, and remembrance
As Turkey marked the tenth anniversary of the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, Al-Jazeera Net reported that Turkish mosques continued to broadcast messages of reassurance through a national program organized by the Turkish Presidency of Religious Affairs. The program included prayers and Qur’an recitations for the souls of those who fell in the coup attempt, and the report said the minarets would remain lit until the dawn prayer, with central mosques and those near official venues open throughout the night.
Al-Jazeera Net described the night of July 15-16 as one in which mosques responded to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s call for the public to take to the streets and confront the coup plotters, with voices from the minarets rising in prayers urging citizens to go out into the streets to defend the country and its constitutional institutions. The report also said the Presidency of Religious Affairs viewed the continuation of prayers and dhikr in mid-July as more than annual remembrance, framing it as a tribute to those who lost their lives and a reminder of the role of mosques in national unity and communal vigilance.