Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited the July 15 Martyrs’ Monument and the Memory July 15 Museum with his wife, Emine Erdoğan, to mark the 8th anniversary of the failed coup attempt.

President Erdoğan paid tribute by reading the Quran at the July 15 Martyrs’ Monument and greeted citizens in attendance. He highlighted the nation’s courage, saying, “We remember with great pride the epic struggle our nation waged with their bare hands against tanks and deadly weapons.”

Addressing the crowd, Erdoğan stated, “July 15 is a heroic epic. On this historic day, our nation stood united against the coup plotters. We honor the heroes who sacrificed their lives for our independence and future, and we will always remember their bravery.”

Erdoğan emphasized the significance of the July 15 Martyrs Bridge, where 34 citizens, including 2 police officers, lost their lives. “We have not forgotten those scenes engraved in our memories, we will not forget them,” he said.

He concluded with a strong message: “We will not forgive those who call July 15 a ‘game’ until the end of time. This nation will continue to resist any attempt to undermine its independence and will.”

President Erdoğan’s visit and statements reinforce the commitment to honor the memory of those who defended Turkey’s democracy on that fateful night.