Turkey marks 10th anniversary of July 15 Democracy Day

In June 2026 Kayseri’s municipal government highlighted arts and education with a children’s graduation concert at the Kadir Has Cultural and Art Center, attended by Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç. On 15 July the municipality organized a free Democracy and National Unity Day run from the Marianne Molu Amphitheatre of Erciyes University, a flag‑bearing exhibition at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Millet Bahçesi Gallery, and concluded a five‑day youth tennis tournament. These activities formed part of a coordinated nationwide commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the 15 July 2016 coup attempt. Across Turkey, municipalities, provincial governors and university rectors held flag‑carrying marches, Qur’an recitations, video screenings and photo‑art exhibitions in cities such as Bursa, İznik, Sason, Kestel, Darıca, Sultangazi, Eskişehir, Antalya and many Istanbul districts. Speakers repeatedly stressed “national unity and democratic victory,” recalled the sacrifice of soldiers and civilians, and urged younger generations to keep the memory alive. The theme “İrade Bizim, Zafer Bizim” (Our Will, Our Victory) featured prominently in speeches and cultural programmes. High‑ranking officials, veterans, families of more than 250 martyrs, representatives of political parties and civil‑society groups attended, reinforcing a narrative of democratic resilience and vigilance against the FETÖ movement. The combined programmes—processions, speeches, cultural performances and awards—underscored Kayseri’s upcoming role as the 2029 World Sports Capital and reflected a broader effort to reaffirm democratic institutions, national sovereignty and cultural heritage throughout the country. On 15 July, Istanbul hosted a Bosphorus boat tour for families of the fallen, interior‑ministerial officials and the governor. Konya saw a 260 km bicycle relay called “Vatan Engel Tanımaz,” passing through several districts. Ankara University staged a panel, “Gazi Meclis’te O Gece,” where eyewitnesses recalled the parliament bombing. Flag marches, cemetery visits and Qur’an recitations were also held in places such as Canik, Nevşehir and Sason, underlining nationwide unity.