Halit Şener (45), a veteran from Konya, who was injured with a bullet that hit his left leg as a result of FETO soldiers opening fire on the people waiting in front of the General Staff on the night of July 15, told SABAH about that dark night. Saying that this betrayal will not be forgotten even if 10 years have passed, not 10 years, Şener said, “If I had sat at home that night, I would never have forgiven myself. This nation, who took to the streets with Turkish flags in their hands, showed once again the indivisible integrity of the homeland. While standing against the traitors, no one thought about their own lives even for a moment. All we thought about was that our homeland should not be divided, our flag should not come down, our call to prayer should not be heard. Thank God, all the plans of the traitors should be brought to their own feet.” “We got around,” he said. Halit Şener received the news of the July 15 coup attempt by FETO traitors while he was visiting a friend’s house in Konya. Şener left his pregnant wife at home and set out for Ankara, taking a friend with him. Şener, who went in front of the General Staff Headquarters in Ankara, was shot in his left leg as a result of fire opened by coup soldiers. Şener, who received treatment first in Ankara and then in Konya, continues his life with crutches today. Halit Şener, who has artery, nerve and muscle loss in his leg and has to use crutches for life, says that this is not a matter of sadness but a source of pride for him.

‘I WOULDN’T FORGIVE MYSELF IF I HAD SIT AT HOME THAT NIGHT’
Gazi Şener said, “Even if not 10 years but 100 years have passed, we will not forget this betrayal, we will not let it be forgotten. We did not win this country easily. Our ancestors sacrificed their lives against the enemy on the fronts. We have been shot and maimed for this country, how many? I am even proud of this stick I carry. If I had stayed at home that night, I would not have forgiven myself. This nation, who took to the streets with Turkish flags in their hands, once again showed the indivisible integrity of the country. To the traitors. “While standing against it, no one thought about their own lives even for a moment. All we thought about was that our country should not be divided, our flag should not be lowered, and our call to prayer should not be stopped. Thank God, we have foiled all the plans of the traitors, and may God not let our country experience these days again.”

One of the heroes who marched to martyrdom on the night of July 15 was Oğuzhan Yaşar from Erzurum. He was only 23 years old and in the prime of his life. In the words of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, he was “a 1.95 tall sapling”.

He was doing his military service. He was at his home in Ankara during his leave. As soon as he heard President Erdoğan’s call, he went out without thinking. He was seriously injured by a bomb thrown in front of the Presidential Complex. He fought for his life in the hospital for 19 days and drank the syrup of martyrdom.

In his statement to SABAH, father Ahmet Yaşar said, “The night of July 15 was the night of resurrection of Türkiye. May God never grant that night to the Turkish nation, to my Anatolia again. My son said, ‘Dad, this is a big blow. The men are firing bullets, but we will resist it. No matter what happens,’ he said. And he hung up the phone. Doctors are intervening for my martyr. The shrapnel burned my martyr’s brain, I wanted to give my brain, but he accepted. They did not. My son drank the martyrdom on the 19th day. I hope we will never experience July 15 again. “How did you raise this sapling?” I said. Three coffins were changed, but only a special coffin could carry my son. May our lives be sacrificed for this country.

ANNE YAŞAR: WE WILL HAVE A DESTINATION IN THE JUDGMENT
His mother, Necmiye Yaşar, said, “I applied his henna while sending him off to the military, but that day was his destiny. I gave him a martyr for the country. My tears did not stop. Didn’t those who did this have children? What kind of conscience is this? Can someone who rains bullets on people be a Muslim? My son sent me to Erzurum 2 days before he was martyred. He hugged me at the terminal. He looked at me for a long time. It was as if he was born into it. I couldn’t go to Ankara after that day. This happened to us. “We will settle accounts with those who made us suffer. Thank our country. I only hope that they will not get away with these treasons. I have always felt bad when July 15th approaches for 10 years,” he said.

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli stated the following in his July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day message shared on MHP’s NSosyal account:

“July 15 is one of the last links of the struggle for independence that the Turkish nation has waged throughout history. July 15 is a multi-layered invasion attempt that aims to collapse the Republic of Turkey from within, usurp national sovereignty and chain the will of the Turkish nation. Therefore, reading July 15 correctly is a national obligation not only in terms of understanding the past but also in terms of protecting the future. On July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day, we salute our beloved martyrs. I commemorate them with gratitude and respect. I pray for health, well-being and long lives for our veterans. May God protect our nation from all kinds of discord and our state from all kinds of attacks.

JULY 15 IS ONE OF THE LAST RINGS OF THE INDEPENDENCE STRUGGLE OF THE TURKISH NATION THROUGHOUT HISTORY. pic.twitter.com/BCDRGG7Fpk

— MHP (@MHP_Bilgi) July 14, 2026

AK Party Deputy Chairman Hayati Yazıcı, who made the opening speech of the symposium titled “July 15 in its 10th Year with Its Political and Legal Aspects”, said, “The mechanisms and practices put forward by the coup mentality must be put to an end as well as the repelling and failure of the coups. In this context, the issue of a new and civilian constitution is a historical duty of loyalty that must be fulfilled to our beloved nation who laid down their lives on the night of July 15.”

IMPACT WARNING
İsmail Kahraman, who served as the Speaker of the Parliament on the night of the treacherous coup, said, “We opened the Parliament that night with a feeling of martyrdom. July 15 is an invasion of Türkiye. This incident is not a FETO incident. FETO is a puppet. In the scenario, the directorship belongs to the outside. Today, we see movements again. They intervene when Türkiye is developing, they do not want us to develop.” Binali Yıldırım, the then Prime Minister, said, “I called the President that night, we talked and made our plans. We made a covenant with our President. We said there is only death, no return.”

Türkiye is commemorating the 10th anniversary of the epic of democracy written by the nation with its bare hands against the treacherous coup attempt of FETO on July 15, 2016. Within the scope of the commemoration programs that started on July 14 and will continue until midnight today, squares in 81 provinces were decorated with flags. Events organized to commemorate our martyrs and express our gratitude to our veterans are held simultaneously all over the country. July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day events organized this year under the coordination of the Presidency Directorate of Communications with the theme “Our Will, Our Victory”; President Tayyip Erdoğan’s giant meeting in Ankara will witness a historic example of loyalty with the participation of millions all over the country. The biggest address of the commemoration programs this year will be Ankara Capital National Garden at 18.00 today. The determination to uphold the national will will once again be strongly emphasized at the ceremonies, which will be held under the auspices of the Presidency and expected to be attended by approximately 20 thousand citizens. President Erdoğan’s address will be broadcast live on giant screens installed in the squares of 81 provinces.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan went to Qatar for a condolence visit on the death of former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. President Erdoğan, who was welcomed by Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saud bin Abdurrahman bin Hasan Al Thani at Hamad International Airport, proceeded to Lusail Palace. Here, President Erdoğan offered his condolences to Qatar Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. His wife Emine Erdoğan, who accompanied Erdoğan during the visit, also expressed her condolences to Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, wife of the former Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who passed away. President Erdoğan’s delegation also included Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek, MİT President İbrahim Kalın, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, President of Religious Affairs Safi Arpaguş and Türkiye’s Ambassador to Doha Mustafa Göksu. Former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani had been receiving treatment for a long time. 74-year-old Al Thani died on July 12, and 4 days of mourning were declared in the country.

PAKISTAN RECEIVED THE COMMANDER OF DEFENSE FORCES
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received the Commander of Pakistan Defense Forces and Commander of the Land Forces, Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The reception took place at Ankara Airport before President Erdoğan’s visit to this country due to the death of former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu and MİT President İbrahim Kalın were also present at the reception.

‘Get well soon’ call to TRNC PRESIDENT
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke on the phone with Tufan Erhürman, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). It was stated that during the meeting, Erdoğan expressed his wishes to get well soon to Erhürman, who fell ill a while ago, was treated and discharged.