Trade Minister Bolat and Governor Gül visit the July 15 Martyrs' Memorial

Speaking at the martyrs' cemetery, Ömer Bolat said, "This epic has been an epic of freedom, an epic of democracy. It has been an epic of defending the national will, of defending one's faith. This has been an epic written in world history. We commemorate with mercy and gratitude our 253 heroic martyrs who willingly sacrificed their lives for their homeland and their faith for this cause."

On July 15th, Democracy and National Unity Day, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat and Istanbul Governor Davut Gül visited the Edirnekapı July 15th Martyrs' Memorial. Before the visit, the Quran was recited, followed by prayers. Minister Bolat and Governor Gül visited each grave individually, placing carnations on the graves of the martyrs.

Also present at the visit were Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, 1st Army and Istanbul Garrison Commander General Metin Tokel, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Major General Yusuf Kenan Topçu, Istanbul Police Chief Selami Yıldız, Istanbul MPs Zafer Sırakaya and Halis Dalkılıç, Coast Guard and Marmara Straits Regional Commander Serkan Tezel, AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Abdullah Özdemir, and Fatih Mayor Ergün Turan.

'THIS EPIC HAS BECOME THE EPIC OF FREEDOM'

Speaking at the martyrs' cemetery, Ömer Bolat said, "We, along with our people and the families of our martyrs, commemorate our heroic martyrs who were laid to rest at the Edirnekapı martyrs' cemetery, accompanied by Quran recitations and prayers. We owe them a debt of gratitude. Our heroic people, who descended on the squares that night across Türkiye at the call of our esteemed President, succeeded in repelling the malicious, tyrannical coup plotters. They made history both in our glorious history and throughout the world. This epic was the epic of freedom, the epic of democracy. It was the epic of defending the national will and upholding one's faith. This epic was written in world history. We remember with mercy and gratitude our 253 heroic martyrs who willingly sacrificed their lives for their homeland and their faith. We remember our nearly 3,000 veterans with gratitude. We wish them a speedy recovery and healthy lives, and we offer our gratitude to millions of our people."

"WE REMEMBER OUR MARTYRS WITH GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION"

Minister Bolat said, "Because they took to the squares and shielded themselves against the coup plotters, tanks, planes, and helicopters. They established their homeland and freedom against those oppressors who turned weapons purchased with the people's taxes against the people. This is the victory of this nation and the victory of national unity. We will never forget our martyrs, and we will not allow them to forget them. We will also not allow the treacherous coup attempt of July 15th to be forgotten. That night began with anxiety and concern, but it ended with peace, victory, and an epic. Our Republic, our country, and our homeland will endure forever in these lands. Our people demonstrated once again that night that they will protect their homeland under all circumstances. They have shown this in the past, and they will continue to do so in the future. Furthermore, we commemorate once again with gratitude and respect all our heroic soldiers, police, security forces, and civilian martyrs who fought heroically to protect this homeland, to prevent it from being divided and fragmented."

DHA

Reporter: News Center