A nation remembers: Türkiye’s July 15 commemoration balances memory, message and statecraft – photo report

In the heart of Ankara on a humid July morning, beneath skies tempered by high summer haze, Türkiye once again turned inward—reflecting on the traumatic night of 15 July 2016, when a violent military coup attempt shocked the country, paralysed its capital, and left over 300 people dead and thousands more injured. Nearly a decade on, the memory remains raw, vivid, and politically potent.

At the invitation of the Directorate of Communications of the Republic of Türkiye, Daily News Hungary joined over 120 journalists from across 41 countries for a three-day programme marking the ninth anniversary of the failed coup. The event — spread across Ankara and Istanbul — was equal parts memorial, message, and media diplomacy. While the tone was at times highly curated, the commemorative effort provided rare access to key institutions and an opportunity to observe how a nation narrates a turning point it considers foundational to its modern identity.

A night etched in collective memory

The failed coup of 15 July 2016 is remembered in Türkiye not merely as a power grab, but as a rupture — a moment when democracy itself, in the government’s view, teetered on the edge of annihilation. In the state’s official narrative, the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation (FETÖ) was behind the attempt, seeking to destabilise civilian rule and seize power through the infiltration of the military and judiciary.

These themes were woven throughout our visit to the July 15 Democracy Museum, located within the Presidential Complex in Ankara — a space that blends modernist austerity with solemn national reverence. The museum presents a visceral, sometimes jarring, account of the coup attempt: photographs of civilians confronting tanks, footage from mobile phones and security cameras, and personal effects of the deceased — wedding rings, bloodied clothing, children’s toys — all serve to underscore the human toll.

Security remains heavy at the Presidential Complex — no planes, civilian or military, are allowed to fly overhead. In fact, throughout the trip, heightened security presence was a noticeable backdrop, a reminder that the trauma of 2016 has left structural and psychological legacies.

Parliament in reflection, not rally

Later that day, at the Grand National Assembly, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the country in a short, restrained speech delivered after the recitation of a Quranic prayer. In contrast to previous years, where fiery addresses often stretched well beyond the hour mark, this year’s speech was notable for its brevity — just under 15 minutes.

And though the symbolism of the venue is clear — the Parliament was among the sites bombed during the coup attempt — this year’s attendance was noticeably sparse. Rows of empty seats marked the chamber, particularly in the front rows designated for members of the judiciary, senior business figures, and foreign diplomats. There were murmurs among attendees about the absence of certain political and institutional figures, subtly punctuating what was otherwise a solemn atmosphere. Still, The Turkish President’s message was sharply delivered.

“The epic of July 15,” Erdoğan declared, “is the triumph of bare hands over tanks, planes, and bombs.”

His tone blended religious homage with national pride, repeatedly returning to the idea of unity and the unyielding will of the people in the face of an existential threat.

To read our detailed report on President Erdoğan’s July 15 address, click HERE.

Analysing the past to secure the future

On 16 July, attention turned to a series of panel discussions hosted by the Directorate of Communications under the theme “Memory, Justice and the Future” — a conceptual triangle framing Türkiye’s efforts not just to remember the coup, but to position itself as a democracy forged in crisis.

Prof. Burhanettin Duran, Head of Communications at the Presidency, opened the panels with a candid personal reflection. He recalled the moment he and his wife left their home in Ankara on the night of the coup — despite warnings from friends and neighbours — to witness history unfolding. He spoke with conviction about the importance of preserving the memory of July 15, including passing it on to the next generation; the previous night, he said, he had explained the events to his eight-year-old daughter.

More than 11,000 commemorative projects have been submitted across Türkiye this year alone, including student painting competitions and civic events, underscoring the degree to which July 15 has been embedded in the country’s public memory — particularly within its educational and cultural sectors.

The message from Duran was clear: Türkiye is not the same country it was in 2016. In his words, it has emerged “stronger, more vigilant, and more democratic”, with security recalibrated and its institutions undergoing what he called a “massive transformation.” He also noted the extent to which Türkiye sees itself now as a “pioneer of a human-centred international order.”

The Vice President’s framework: memory, justice and unity

Vice President Dr Cevdet Yılmaz, in a follow-up keynote, offered a more sober assessment. Addressing both local and international media, he delivered a considered reflection on the collective memory of nations. “A nation without memory,” he warned, “is like a person with amnesia. It cannot have justice, nor can it build a stable future.”

Yılmaz did not shy away from questioning the events of the past. He argued that the failure to properly examine and understand the series of coups from the 1960s onwards had created a kind of democratic fragility — an inability to anticipate and confront anti-democratic threats like FETÖ.

“Had we studied our past more thoroughly,” the Vice President noted, “perhaps we could have avoided the tragedy of 2016.”

His disappointment, however, was reserved most clearly for the international media, which, in his view, failed to depict the events of July 15 with the nuance and accuracy they deserved. While praising Türkiye’s domestic media for its democratic stance, he lamented the global press’s apparent indifference — or, worse, scepticism — toward what many in Türkiye view as one of the most important nights in their republican history.