The "July 15 Photograph Exhibition" was opened in cooperation between the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) and the July 15 Association. MÜSİAD President Abdurrahman Kaan said: "I find the photograph exhibition extremely important in that it carries this treacherous coup attempt into the future and sets out with documents that black night which we shall never forget."
The exhibition, which opened to visitors in the MÜSİAD Head Office building and features 55 frames laying bare the treacherous coup attempt of the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), will remain open for one month.
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Governor of İstanbul Ali Yerlikaya noted that there is a very intensive programme of events concerning July 15 and said: '"We will tell it, we will remind, we will not forget, we will not let it be forgotten."
Stating that the Turkish nation rose up against FETÖ's coup attempt in a manner unprecedented in the world, Yerlikaya recounted how, following the words of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, "I know of no power above the will of the nation, I have never recognized one. The avenues and the streets are waiting for you," the nation, from the age of 7 to 70, young and old, took to the streets and how the dark night dawned into a very different brightness.
Yerlikaya said that these lands have seen many dark nights, but that the nation set fire to the crops in its fields so that the aircraft would not be able to see ahead, and that such an example of patriotism is not easily to be found.
Recalling that 251 martyrs were given on that treacherous night, Yerlikaya said: "The families of the martyrs are entrusted to us. Likewise our veterans... Whenever we see them we feel the heroic spirit of that night made tangible through them, and we take great pride in having them among us. This was not even a coup attempt, it was an invasion attempt. When one learns from the subsequent testimonies what things they intended to do and with what wicked designs, it is impossible not to be horrified."
Underlining that they are obliged always to pass on to future generations what was experienced that night, Yerlikaya declared that against those who turned their backs on the West and aimed their weapons at Anatolia, the wisdom, the faith and the belief of Anatolia prevailed.
Stating that there is no other instance in the world of a coup attempt being extinguished and disgraced in this way, Yerlikaya concluded his remarks as follows:
"They understood extremely well that the call to prayer of this noble nation cannot be silenced, that the state, the nation, the homeland and the flag cannot be occupied through analytical assessments of the world made at a desk, that the administration cannot be seized and that a line cannot be drawn through the nation's will. They came to know us better and more closely. They understood very well that the power and the strength of this nation are far greater than they appear, and that behind it there are unseen powers and forces."
"We told the world the truth behind the conspiracy and the destructive plans"
MÜSİAD President Abdurrahman Kaan said that July 15 is a manifestation of the fact that the nation as a whole thwarted a treacherous attempt aimed at writing a black page for Türkiye, and that it holds freedom, love of homeland, democracy and national honour above all else.
Stating that on that dark night, when everyone, old and young, women and men, stood against the murderers of democracy with great fury, the Turkish nation once again showed the whole world its passion for democracy and gave a lesson in unity and solidarity, Kaan said: "We too, as MÜSİAD, made our reaction clear immediately after the coup attempt, and while many NGOs were still busy taking the pulse of the situation, we expressed our stance against this treacherous uprising in clear terms and took part in the democracy vigils."
Noting that they explained the treachery the nation faced at every point at home and abroad, he recounted that they expressed with all their breath the truth behind the injustice, the conspiracy and the destructive plans, and that they worked with all their strength to form public opinion in this direction around the world.
Stating that all their branches and representatives at home and abroad also gave effective support to these efforts through their own endeavours, Kaan noted that
The exhibition will also be opened in countries such as the USA and Germany
Noting that they have created content and prepared books and informative publications in order to pass on to future generations the night of July 15 and what followed it, Kaan shared examples of these works.
Speaking about their cooperation with the July 15 Association, Kaan said that today too they had opened this exhibition in order to leave a trace for the future.
Noting that the exhibition will also be held at home and abroad, Kaan made the following statements:
"Besides İstanbul, we will continue these exhibitions of ours in İzmir, Sakarya, Tekirdağ, Fethiye, Mersin, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Şırnak, Hakkari, Gümüşhane, Ordu Samsun and Kırıkkale, and abroad in Germany, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, Romania and the USA. I find the photograph exhibition we are opening today extremely important in that it carries this treacherous coup attempt into the future and sets out with documents that black night which we shall never forget."
Kaan called on everyone to visit the exhibition, which will remain open for one month in the exhibition area of the head office building.
"That night the value judgement at the core of the nation was translated into practice"
İsmail Hakkı Turunç, President of the July 15 Association, noted that everyone's ethnic or other identities may differ and said: 'But we have common denominators such as "being a citizen of this country" and "laying down one's life for the homeland when the time comes".'
Stating that on the night of the treacherous attempt the Turkish nation stood against the traitors to the homeland, Turunç said: "That day, the people who laid down their lives unarmed before the tanks and the cannon, with the desire to become martyrs and veterans and with love of God, the Prophet and the homeland, translated into practice the value judgement at the core of this nation."
Noting that they and their children must keep this faith alive in these lands until the Day of Judgement by showing even greater self-sacrifice, Turunç expressed the wish that the same faith should continue in these lands until the last breath.
"Art is very important for passing July 15 on to future generations"
Ayşe Arslantürk, the elder sister of the martyr İlhan Varank and Chairwoman of the Women's Commission of the July 15 Association, said that in her view the publications, productions and artistic events concerning July 15 should increase.
Stating that everyone has written a novel and a story about July 15 in their own mind, Arslantürk said: "But perhaps there is no need for us to hurry too much. In 10 years, in 20 years, many stories will emerge that will remain permanently in our literature."
Noting that she had listened before the event to the stories of Governor Yerlikaya and MÜSİAD President Kaan about that night, Arslantürk said: "There is not one but a great many stories belonging to that night. We will pass July 15 on to future generations through the stories in our minds. Art is very important in this respect."
Touching on the importance of NGOs in the separation of members of terrorist organizations from society, Arslantürk added that progress can be made on this matter thanks to cooperation between the state and NGOs.
