Turkey celebrates triumph of democracy

During the last 12 months, Turkey has proved its unity and solidarity around the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On July 15, we commemorate the first anniversary of the thwarted coup attempt that posed an existential threat to our country.

At the first sightings of fighter jets over Ankara and Istanbul, we recognized there was something amiss. In the ensuing hours, there was a horrifying realization that the perpetrators of this hideous undertaking were disciples of Fethullah Gulen. Words cannot describe adequately the brutality and treachery that the putschists displayed that night. It was the worst act of terror in the history of the Turkish Republic.

Terrorists in military uniform used lethal hardware against innocent civilians who took to the streets to defend their president, democracy and homeland. They also killed unsuspecting military personnel who mistook them for comrades in arms, and commanders who refused to take part in the coup attempt.

In an effort to subdue resistance, the putschists used F-16 fighter jets to bomb Parliament, the presidential compound, and the headquarters of the national intelligence and special forces. Terrorists sent an elite squad to assassinate Erdogan and the prime minister. That night, they killed 250 Turkish citizens and wounded more than 2,000.

July 15 was a test of strength and perseverance for the Turkish nation, democracy and state. We are proud to have passed this test. All political parties, uninfected elements of the armed forces, the police and the media stood up against the putschists. Above all, Turks from all backgrounds and political views displayed a historic example of solidarity as they stood selflessly in front of tanks and reclaimed their country and democracy.

Even on the night of July 15, it was obvious that Gulen and his disciples were behind this bloody attempt. His desire to take control of the state and institute a regime according to his perverted religious ethos was no secret. For decades, he directed his followers to infiltrate all critical state organs such as the police, judiciary and armed forces.

These so-called Gulenists constitute a typical case of radicalization by cult of personality. They believe Gulen is the messiah and they are the golden generation. Their loyalty is to him only, making them violate any legal, religious or ethical codes in order to advance this group’s interests. They also excelled in concealing their affiliation with him so they could penetrate all circles without raising suspicion.

The Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization (FETO) is a new-generation terrorist group based on hypocrisy, concealment and secrecy. The government had already taken action against this mafia-like cult and its financial resources before July 15. The decision to shut down prep-schools was a huge blow to its structure, since these schools were the main recruitment centers and a major financial source for FETO.

This was followed by a series of administrative and judicial investigations into the criminal aspects of the organization, including largescale cheating during admission exams for civil service positions, wiretapping, money-laundering and many others.

The police and judiciary had also taken measures to discharge FETO members from their ranks. In short, it was about to lose its power in Turkey. Trying to capture the state was their last chance to survive. So we were able to identify the perpetrator as FETO even on July 15.

What shocked us was the scale of its penetration of the armed forces. Its audacity in attacking state institutions and its sheer brutality were almost surreal. July 15 was a stark revelation of the existential threat that faced the very foundations of the Turkish state.

The authorities have managed to decode encrypted communication systems such as “Bylock,” used only by FETO members. That was the biggest breakthrough enabling the police to better identify FETO members who have infiltrated state institutions and to uncover their illegal activities.

During the last year, their criminal activities have been investigated in more than 1,000 court cases, highlighting the darker undertakings of the organization. Confronting such a sinister and clandestine structure is not easy.

The government is rightfully taking necessary and proportionate measures to suppress and eventually defeat this imminent threat. We are determined to fight FETO with the three things they despise most: The rule of law, morality and democracy.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) promptly condemned the coup attempt, and its 56 member states, with active Saudi support, adopted a historic resolution against FETO. 

The resolution proved once again the OIC’s unwavering solidarity and unity with its member states, particularly with Turkey, whose “security, stability and prosperity is vital to the whole Ummah.”

• Ambassador Salih Mutlu Sen is Turkey’s permanent representative to the OIC. He is based in Jeddah.