
Türkiye marks 9 years since the failed 15 July coup
Turkiye witnessed the bloodiest coup attempt in its modern history on July 15, 2016, when Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) headed by Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric and businessman who lived in self-imposed exile in the state of Pennsylvania in the US from 1999 until his passing in 2024, launched a coordinated attempt to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. The terrorist group had been infiltrating the state for decades, using state resources, tools, equipment and weapons to stage a coup against the legitimate, elected government. In both scale and nature, it was unlike any other coup in the republic's history.
Turkiye has experienced eight coups and coup attempts over the past 60 years. This attempted coup in 2016 saw 252 people being killed and 2,734 being wounded.
In Pretoria, South Africa on 15 July 2025 The Maarif Foundation South Africa and Yunus Emre Institute, in collaboration with the University of Pretoria, hosted a timely panel discussion exploring how democracies resist unconstitutional changes of government. Drawing on the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, the event offered reflections and insights relevant to democratic resilience across the continent.
In her address Turkish Ambassador Nilvana Darama Yıldırımgeç said that Türkiye's experience holds important lessons that go beyond its borders and speak to the value of protecting democracy everywhere.
Important lessons worth noting from this heinous attempt include :
Democracy must be protected not just by governments, but by citizens themselves.
Unity is the greatest strength
The coup demonstrated how dangerous it is when illegal groups secretly infiltrate state institutions.
Strong leadership and a free media played a vital role.
Democracy is never guaranteed, it should be constantly defended by all generations.
This is not only a message for Türkiye, but for the world.
' Never take democracy for granted.'
Ambassador Yıldırımgeç went on to say that in an interconnected world, threats to democracy often cross borders. There are still individuals who participated in the 2016 coup who continue their activities abroad. Most commonly under the guise of education, media or civil society, their aim is to mislead public opinion against Turkiye.
'Remember – Democracy is not something we inherit — it is something we must build, protect, nurture, and defend every day. '
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Herald
9 hours ago
- The Herald
Limpopo man arrested for allegedly killing baby girl and injuring mother with pickup van
A 35-year-old Limpopo man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 13-month-old baby girl and the injury of her mother who were run over by a pickup van. Provincial police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba said the incident happened on Friday at about 8pm. He said the woman and the man — her ex-boyfriend — allegedly had a heated argument while she was waiting with her baby for a taxi to take them to Segopye village, outside Polokwane. 'A taxi arrived and she and her baby boarded. On the way, the taxi driver apparently informed her that a pickup van was following the taxi. 'They [mother and child] alighted at Marothi (Makwalaneng) and her ex-boyfriend allegedly drove over them at high speed,' Ledwaba said. The woman and child were taken to hospital where the little girl died. The mother sustained injuries to her legs. The man is expected to appear in the Makweng magistrate's court on Monday on charges of murder and attempted murder. SowetanLIVE

The Herald
15 hours ago
- The Herald
Triple murder, attempted murder allegedly committed by men posing as cops in Philippi East
Serious and violent crime unit detectives are investigating a triple murder and attempted murder allegedly committed by suspects posing as policemen in the early hours of Saturday in Philippi East. Cape Town police said two unknown suspects approached a residence in Hankomo Street, Lower Crossroads, identified themselves as police officers and claimed to be looking for something. The suspects then opened fire on the occupants of the house. 'Two men, aged 19 and 20, and a 20-year-old woman, were declared dead at the scene by medical personnel. A fourth victim, a 26-year-old woman, sustained gunshot wounds to her arms and was transported to a medical facility for treatment.' The armed men then fled. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or report information anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application. TimesLIVE

The Herald
15 hours ago
- The Herald
Police scour Middelpos settlement after new information in Joshlin Smith case
Western Cape police searched an area in the Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay on Friday afternoon chasing leads as part of the investigation into the disappearance of seven-year-old Joshlin Smith. Joshlin's mother, Racquel 'Kelly' Smith, Smith's boyfriend Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis, 33, and Steveno van Rhyn, 28, received life sentences for the kidnapping and trafficking of Joshlin in May. An eight-week trial revealed how the trio planned to sell the green-eyed grade 1 pupil with fair skin to a sangoma for R20,000 from their home in the settlement in February last year. 'SAPS teams led by detectives with K-9 members, search and rescue teams and local police have been scouring an identified area in Saldanha Bay. Whether the ongoing search will yield any success remains to be seen. It is worth reiterating that police have an obligation to follow up and test all information that is brought to their attention,' Western Cape police said on Saturday. 'A humble plea is hereby made that the search teams be afforded space to perform their duties as the investigation continues.' Police said on Saturday, even though the three were sentenced for kidnapping and human trafficking, the disappearance without trace of the child remained a priority for police and the investigation was never closed. TimesLIVE