15 July Commemoration Events held in Bodrum

In the Bodrum district of Muğla, a march and commemoration program was organized as part of the "15 July Democracy and National Unity Day" remembrance events.

The program, organized by the Bodrum District Governorate, was held with the theme "Our Will, Our Victory!" The event, which started with a march from Milta Marina to Barış Square in the evening, was attended by Bodrum District Governor Ali Sırmalı, Mayor Tamer Mandalinci, Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Murat Küçük, Garrison Commander Personnel Colonel Ayhan Ulutaş, District Police Chief Mehmet Darendeli, District Gendarmerie Commander Lieutenant Colonel Kamil İncebacak, Coast Guard Station Commander Major Raşit Gödelek, the AK Party Muğla Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Candidate of the People's Alliance for the 2024 local elections and 21st and 24th Term MP Prof. Dr. Aydın Ayaydın, 24th, 25th, and 26th Term MP Mehmet Metiner, institution chiefs, veterans, families of martyrs, political party and NGO representatives, and citizens.

After the march ended at Barış Square accompanied by the Ottoman military band, a moment of silence was observed and the National Anthem was sung. This was followed by an Ottoman military band performance and a video screening about the 15 July Democracy and National Unity Day.

Bodrum District Governor Ali Sırmalı, in his speech emphasizing the significance of the day, said, "Ten years ago on 15 July 2016, a coup attempt was made against our homeland, nation, and democracy by FETO traitors. On the night of 15 July, the traitors aiming to destroy our country, nation, democracy, and bright future turned their weapons against the noble and devoted people and made a bloody coup attempt. On that night, the villains rained bombs on the national will. They bombed the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, the seat where this will manifests. They advanced on the public with tanks. They martyred our citizens without blinking an eye. On that dark night, they showed no limits in vileness, betrayal, and treason."

Sırmalı added, "Throughout history, our beloved nation, which struggled for independence and sovereignty, responded to the call of our Commander-in-Chief, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, by taking to the squares. Our nation, who went to the squares with the call of our President, united with the belief of one nation, one homeland, one flag, one state. Our people shielded their bodies against tanks, rifles, and treacherous groups, not giving passage to the traitors. This unparalleled courage and spirit of unity that turned the dark night into light is the clearest indication of the Turkish nation's passion for independence and commitment to democracy. Our beloved nation once again demonstrated on 15 July that those who own democracy and sovereignty in these lands are only the people."

The program continued with watching President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's speech on a big screen, the call to prayer at 00:13, the recitation of the Quran and prayers, and poems expressing the day's importance read by students, concluding with heroic folk songs performed by the Teachers' Choir.