'Democracy watch' rallies to start at midnight July 15

"Democracy watch" rallies marking the first anniversary of last July's coup attempt will officially start on Saturday, the president announced Thursday.

After last year's coup attempt, “democracy watch” rallies were held all across the country for several weeks.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at a memorial service held at Bestepe National Congress and Culture Center in Ankara to commemorate the martyrs of last July 15's coup attempt.

Erdoğan said the watch will start on July 15. 2017 at 12.13 a.m. (2113GMT) with imams reciting Quran prayers simultanously.

“The nationwide democracy watch will continue till July 16, 2017 midnight,” Erdoğan officially announced the launch of the event.

He added that democracy watches could take place after Sunday midnight.

The events and ceremonies, which will be attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will be open to the public.

Additionally, various activities will also be organized by non-governmental organizations, municipalities and institutions.

On Saturday, July 15, the General Assembly of the parliament will convene at 1.00 p.m. local time (1000GMT) in Ankara with a special agenda followed by a meeting with international press members two hours later.

In Istanbul, a "National Unity Walk" will start at 6.30 p.m local time with the participation of Erdoğan, veterans, and the relatives of martyrs. President Erdoğan will address the public after the screening of a July 15 documentary. He will also attend the opening ceremony of a martyrs' memorial.

Erdoğan is scheduled later to depart for Ankara where he will address the parliament at 2.32 a.m., the time the parliament was bombed on the night of the coup attempt.

Sunday's program will begin with a morning prayer at Ankara's Beştepe Millet Mosque followed by the opening of the July 15 Martyrs' Monument at the presidency complex.

Throughout the week, Turkish embassies across the world will hold memorial services and issue press releases about the coup attempt. Messages will also be shared on mainstream and social media.

Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gülen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

FETÖ is also behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.