On the coup attempt’s fourth anniversary, Turkey is stronger than ever

Four years ago, on this day, an exceptional event took place and was recorded in history books. It is not an event that can simply fall through the cracks as a failed coup attempt. It was a direct war of betrayal, injustice, lies, evil against good, loyalty, and patriotism; and in the most obvious, clearest sense, good, loyalty, and patriotism won.

For the past four years, this obvious and clear victory against the coup plotters who attacked the nation’s will, the religion-mongers who tried to distort our religion, the traitors who attempted to open our country’s doors to invaders from within on July 15 has been celebrated with great joy and vast public participation.

Every year following the failed bloody coup and invasion attempt was welcomed with the confidence of having taken the steps necessary to further consolidate the state and the people against the invasion system the coup plotters tried to establish in Turkey. Immediately following July 15, the general opinion was that an army, with almost more than half of its members discharged after their treachery was discovered, would be weak, Operation Euphrates Shield was launched in Syria. The operation was a great success. Turkey showed thw world that its military reached its strongest state once it was freed from the shackles of betrayal.

No progress could be made for years in the fight against terrorism. However, with the full-throttle progress made since that day, Turkey is now on the verge of completely eliminating terrorism, which has become one of the country’s most chronic problems. Today, Turkey marks the fourth anniversary of July 15 with a complete purging operation on Mt. Judi in the country’s southeastern Şırnak province.

If the coup attempt had been successful, God forbid, the result of the coordination and planning of the terrorists’ masters was Turkey’s division. Forces ready on the Syrian border were about to march into Turkey. The terrorist organization’s militias were already prepared on Turkey’s side of the border, waiting. The current state of the terrorist organization on the fourth year of the coup attempt is one of the best responses to July 15.

There is no question that entering the second anniversary of the coup attempt with the presidential system was also one of the most meaningful reactions to that attempt. The success Turkey achieved later in the operations launched abroad, in particular, were all counterattacks that eliminated the Fetullah Terror Organization’s (FETÖ) goals. Turkey no longer builds its defense inside the country’s borders alone, but anywhere there may be a threat.

FETÖ’s coup was not against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan alone. It was against Turkey’s new set of politics, which is represented by Erdoğan. Thus, in that policy, FETÖ stands in line with all of Turkey’s enemies. In the cases of Jerusalem and Palestine, we see it stands not on the same front as Turkey or the Muslims, but with Zionist Israel. In Libya, during the Arab Spring process, it is on the side of the United Arab Emirates and the coup-plotters, not Turkey’s. Day and night, it works to bring ideas, arguments and “services” to Turkey’s enemies.

We no longer have difficulty distinguishing those who stand with FETÖ in all their treachery, and those endorsing it. As FETÖ is the readiest and most convenient instrument to use against Turkey’s enemies, they can appear at the drop of a hat.

In response to this, Turkey is continuing to blast them with responses and defeat. Turkey repelling the coup plotters here and purging its elements from areas they invaded after the deal struck with Libya only adds to Turkey’s success. This has thus ruined all the plans of the powers that were dreaming to corner Turkey on its own territory.

The decision reinstating Hagia Sophia’s status as a mosque last Friday by revoking its status as a museum could be considered the best response to these powers on the fourth anniversary of July 15. This decision is the most powerful demonstration of Turkey’s independence, and that its people and the state are united on a common spirit and ideal.

It is a manifestation of that strong will that was targeted and attempted to be forced to surrender on July 15. July 15 is the day a nation’s awakening and revival took place, the day a nation made history.

July 15 is the name of the legend that led to the integration of the state and its people. July 15 is the manifestation of a beautiful event showing that the nation is worthy of its leader and that that leader is worthy of his people.

July 15 is a day on which all the rules of sociology were annulled and a nation mobilized to protect its government. The social movement theories and social movements we are familiar with are all classified as opposition against the government. Yet, that night, the people demonstrated total mobilization and risked their lives to protect their government against a threat. An incredibly magnificent event became a reality. Perhaps this is the reason why such magnificence makes it easier for suspicion to arise as time passes.

Was all this possible? If asked prior to the event, we would have deemed it impossible. Yet, we saw it with our own eyes and experienced it in all its reality. People confronted and stood against tanks with no weapons at all.

The splendor and effect of the event gave rise to discussions that nothing will ever be the same in Turkey and that the era of coups is over. However, it needs to be noted that – perhaps with the impact of the event – this inference has been made too quickly.

Coups do not always come in the same shape and size. There may be no more conventional coups in Turkey, yet there is always the likelihood that those who are enthusiastic about staging a coup may attempt to weaken Turkey, inhibit its will and, from time to time, achieve success on this path. We do not know from which side the devil is going to approach us. Nonetheless, coup attempts are not always carried out by those who call themselves “putschists.”

Politics does not tolerate blind spots. We need to close ranks to prevent devils, putschists from sneaking in.