Turkish democracy celebrated on the streets of London

On Saturday, vehicles equipped with LED screens displayed visuals and text highlighting the Turkish people’s resistance to the defeated 2016 coup attempt. These vehicles drove through the streets of London, capturing the attention of residents and tourists alike.

Highlighting key locations

Starting at the iconic Piccadilly Square, the vehicles continued their journey past significant landmarks such as Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge and Hyde Park. LED screens narrated the story of the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) coup attempt on 15 July 2016 and the successful fight by the Turkish people to suppress the coup plotters.

“Victory and Heroism”

Prominent slogans displayed on the vehicles included “Victory of Democracy” and “Turkey’s Heroes of the Century.” These messages were accompanied by an award-winning photo taken by Anadolu photojournalist Elif Ozturk on the July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge in Istanbul.

Next panel discussion

In addition to the street displays, Türkiye will hold a panel in London to mark the anniversary of the country’s failed coup attempt.

The state Communications Directorate announced that the panel, titled “The Victory of Turkey’s Democracy,” will be held next Monday. Communications Director Fahrettin Altun is expected to speak at the event, along with Turkish Ambassador to London Osman Karay Ertas and Qurban Hussain, a member of the British House of Lords.

Background to the coup attempt

The Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) has been conducting clandestine activities in Turkey since the 1960s, culminating in the coup attempt of 15 July 2016, which resulted in the deaths of 252 people and left 2,735 others injured. The attempt was thwarted by a rare instance of public resistance to the coup plotters. Since 2016, FETO has been recognized as a terrorist organization by organizations such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Pakistan. The group’s leader, Fetullah Gulen, resides in Pennsylvania, United States, with extradition negotiations still ongoing.