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The Voice of the Public Squares


Our country experienced a coup attempt on July 15. Unfortunately, Turkey has experienced such attempts several times in its recent history.

The Voice of the Public Squares

Our country experienced a coup attempt on July 15. Unfortunately, Turkey has experienced such attempts several times in its recent history. The word “coup,” which is engraved in the memories of the elderly, showed its nature to the young generations that night. The bombardments were broadcasted live, the bridges across the Bosphorus were blocked by tanks, the Turkish Radio and Television Cooperation (TRT) was raided, and a news anchor was forced to read the coup declaration. All these conventional aspects of a coup were performed one after another. However, the coup attempt, organized by FETÖ, a movement with an influence in the country and international backup, was repelled. The most prominent figure in the failure of the coup was the public, who resisted the coup plotters. Military and police officers also struggled against the coup by risking their lives and thus contributed to the success of those opposed to the coup.

In order to resist the coup attempt that we regarded as an act of treachery more than a violation of rights and legal order, we took to the streets with my wife. The Kısıklı neighborhood, where the residence of president is located, was in our vicinity. When we saw on TV that the bridges were blocked, we performed ablution and headed towards the occupied spots. We were shaken by a great disappointment after the coup declaration was announced on TRT. But still, we got over its effect when President Erdoğan spoke on another live broadcast via Internet and addressed the public. He called for people to take to the streets and added that he would be joining us.

This is Okçular Hill

Upon his words, we could not stay home. We headed to Kısıklı in a rush. We saw there that the nation listened to the call of its leader and poured into the streets. Meanwhile, we were hearing shots from the bridge amid the noise created by the jets flying low over the ground. Special operations officers heading to the source of the shots told us that they were going to clash against the coup plotters. “We will show them at the cost of our lives that this land was not acquired easily. We only wish that you do not leave this place empty. This is Okçular Hill. Martyrdom is a blessing for us as long as you are behind us. Give your blessings to us,” they said.

With these words, the crowds got more excited; the younger and more enthusiastic ones were shouting “We are marching to the bridge blocked by junta tanks.” Women were reciting Korans they brought, prayers were being said and beads were being counted. There was a huge crowd at and around the Abdullah Ağa Mosque nearby.

When jet noises increased and explosions and shots could be heard from everywhere between 01.30 a.m. and 03.00 a.m., prayers were recited from the minarets, which muffled the other sounds. The people in squares were shouting and saying “allahuekber” in unison.

On one hand, we were texting and circulating news via our cell phones, and, on the other, some of us were attempting to march towards the bridge. However, everyone was warning each other by saying that Okçular Hill must not be left unprotected. The warnings were answered. People were behaving kindly towards each other as if they were members of the same family, while prayer books were being shared.

Some of the youth were shouting “Ya Allah Bismillah Allahuekber!” while elderly women were praying for Erdoğan. An elderly woman I saw by my side was saying “What has Tayyip done other than serving his country? What do you want from this man, don’t you have a fear of Allah? You executed Menderes and Özal, but we won’t let you harm Erdoğan,” portraying the will of nation.

In another group, a young woman was praying: “Please God! Protect our country from the hands of those traitors. Help our President!”

Meanwhile, various announcements were being made from the minaret and portable speakers to warn people against provocateurs that might infiltrate the crowd. The sun was about to rise. A crowd outgrowing the mosque and its gardens performed their morning prayer together.

Traitors opened fire on the nation

Suddenly, an earsplitting noise came from the air. Everyone took shelter in a corner, lied on the ground. A youth from the crowd began running towards the bridge, shouting. The crowd stopped him by once again saying that they must not leave Okşular Hill. Meanwhile, the news about the bombardment of the Parliament was heard. The crowd rushed to the residence of the President in an effort to guard him.

The sun rose. While elderly people were waiting in corners half asleep, the younger ones were welcoming the ones coming from the bridge. The traces of the clashes could be seen on the police officers’ faces. After carrying the people shot by the coup plotters, the injured citizens were aided and their stories were heard carefully.

A man speaking with a Black Sea region accent showed the large bullet casings in his hands, and said “These bullets were the ones martyring our friends. Look at these carefully! These are the bullets fired on the people by the Gülenist traitors.” Another man was pointing to his blood-stained shirt and shouting “This is the blood of a martyr. This blood is sacred. This blood belongs to the ones protecting the honor of the country. May Allah curse the ones who cannot deserve this blood.”

Meanwhile, I was thinking about how to express my anger, taking photos and notes as mementos of the night. I had not slept for the last 26 hours. Towards the evening of July 16, while President Erdoğan was leaving his residence, a young man in the crowd remarked “There is something different, something special about this man!” which resonated in my mind for a while.

So, Kısıklı turned into a symbolic space of the people’s resistance against the coup attempt. But everywhere in Turkey was marked as a symbol of resistance that night.


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