Comparison of July 15 to a 'Cold Case': 'The perpetrators are known, but it is not us'

12punto.com.tr-Müyesser Yıldız

Former Major General Mehmet Dişli, known as the "confidant" of July 15-era Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar and who claims he was imprisoned due to Akar's slanders, pointed out that the visit paid to him by DEM Party MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu had been criticized, and invited 600 members of parliament, including Akar, to Kandıra Prison.

The taking of final statements from defendants continued in the General Staff "Main Case," which is nearing its conclusion after being retried at the Ankara 17th High Criminal Court following the Court of Cassation's partial reversal decision. At the beginning of the hearing, the presiding judge reminded the defendants, "Final statements are for defense; they are not for taking jabs at people or putting on a show."

In today's session, among the defendants asked for their final statements, former Presidential Chief Aide Ali Yazıcı said he congratulated Galatasaray and Galatasaray fans, while former Staff Colonel Fırat Alakuş, who is accused of seizing Hulusi Akar on the night of July 15 and taking him to Akıncı Air Base, stated that the case was a political one because the coup attempt was directed against politics, saying, "Neither I nor the unit under my command had any action directed at politicians. My personnel are innocent." Recalling MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli's past criticisms of Erdoğan, Alakuş claimed that the political power had orchestrated July 15 by corrupting and violating the constitutional order in order to cover up the 17/25 December corruption operations, and argued that he and his personnel were victims.

Former Gendarmerie Staff Colonel Murat Koçyiğit stated that he had proven that the allegation that former Rear Admiral Halil İbrahim Yıldız, codenamed "raven," and former Colonel Hakan Bıyık, codenamed "hat," had attended meetings held in a villa before July 15 was untrue, and then said, "Are 'hat' and 'raven' really in Ankara on those dates? Are they at the place where that meeting was held? I asked for their HTS records to be brought at the very least, but you did not accept it."

Are You Mocking Me?

When one of the defendants, former non-commissioned officer Fevzi Sönmez, thanked 135 defendants one by one as his final statement, the following dialogue took place:

Judge: Are you mocking me? Tell me who you are not thanking.

Sönmez: I am not speaking outside the scope of the case.

Judge: Is what you are doing normal, are you doing something serious?

Sönmez: I am making a farewell speech.

Judge: You can say farewell downstairs. Be a little more serious and step aside.

After Fevzi Sönmez replied, "As you wish," he continued thanking the other defendants and noted that he would make his final statement if he were allowed to complete his interrupted defense.

The presiding judge stated that some other defendants had made the same request, and that all these requests were rejected as they were intended to prolong the trial.

"Akar's Testimony Should Not Be Taken Into Account"

Former Major General Mehmet Dişli, who connected to the hearing from Kandıra Prison via SEGBİS, stated in his final defense that he had revealed he was not/could not be a member of the so-called Peace at Home Council, and explained where he was on July 15 and how he was made a defendant through setups, saying:

"I was by Hulusi Akar's side and under his command. I carried out all my activities with his orders. The reason I am here is Akar's testimony. However, in the live broadcast he appeared on 7 years later, he showed that his statements about me were untrue. Therefore, I want Akar's testimony to be removed from the file and not taken into account; if it is not removed, I want it to be evaluated in my favor. History is repeating itself, just like in the Dreyfus affair. The only difference is; Hulusi Akar confessed to the slander he cast upon me in front of millions. I have been struggling for 10 years. I am trying to explain my plight even to a bird in flight. With my final defense reflecting in the public eye, an awareness has formed, and there were those who asked for my forgiveness. A deputy (DEM's Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu) visiting me was criticized. I am ready to meet with 600 deputies, including Hulusi Akar, and share my defense. I request that my file be separated and that a decision be made for my release and retrial."

Former Brigadier General Murat Aygün, who is accused of ordering the silencing of the call to prayer (sala) during the coup attempt, said, "God put us here, and He will take us out. No one will be able to prevent the decision He will make; I am waiting for that."

Former Captain Fazlı Özşahin, one of the defendants, also criticized Hulusi Akar, Yaşar Güler, and Salih Zeki Çolak and said the following:

"They all have coup experience. The trampling of the elephants is coming, and those who should prevent it do nothing. Then the elephants trample, they watch, and the grass gets crushed. If a joint perpetrator is being sought; they are the legal guarantors of the safety of the 251 martyrs. What is the need to deal with the crushed grass? While the negligence of those who paved the way for the perpetrators should be investigated, they are made complainants. I am imprisoned with my rank of captain."

Soldiers Who Want to Benefit from the PKK Amnesty

Former Staff Major Ahmet Yıldız emphasized that there were TSK personnel who wrote letters to benefit from the regulations to be made for PKK members, and stressed that this was an example of the truth being turned upside down.

Former Brigadier General Ali Osman Gürcan, who was criticized for remaining silent during the trial process, stated that his silence was not due to accepting his guilt, but because he knew he would not get a result, and asked to be excused from the verdict hearing by saying, "I have no expectations. Since I am psychologically ill, you can give the verdict without me."

It was noted that former Lieutenant Colonel Halil Gül said, "I have no final statement. God will have the final word, I will not."

"July 15 is Also a Cold Case"

Former Staff Colonel Murat Korkmaz, one of the defendants, repeated that ballistic reports revealed that he and the Special Forces Command (ÖKK) personnel did not use weapons in any way, and said:

"I swear on my honor and dignity that I believe I and my personnel are innocent. Whatever the decision to be made; may our state and nation be eternal, may the homeland be safe."

Hakan Evrim, the former commander of Akıncı Air Base, also recalled that the file regarding the disappearance of Gülistan Doku had been reopened and that a commission on cold cases had been established at the Ministry of Justice, saying, "We are saying the same things. The Erol Olçoks, those who were shot in the head at close range... I want your court to apply to this commission to find all the perpetrators. July 15 itself is a cold case. The perpetrators are known, but it is not us."

Who Did Erdoğan Learn It From?

While defendant Derviş Taş claimed that whoever settled into positions and whoever exploited July 15 were the real perpetrators of July 15, former Colonel Doğan Öztürk said the following:

"We could not listen to the biggest victim, Erdoğan. 10 years have passed, we do not know who he learned about the coup from. The Prime Minister and Hakan Fidan are complainants; but we could not listen to them either. Hakan Fidan did not even go to the parliamentary commission; but he went to the USA to explain the Jamal Khashoggi murder. 11 life sentences were given to the non-commissioned officers here. The Court of Cassation wants a 12th. Hakan Bıyık, who said 'I slept in the villa where the coup meetings were held,' received 15 years. How does the Court of Cassation stomach this?"

Former non-commissioned officer Fatih Sarımehmet also said, "I am not a traitor, a coup plotter, or a dishonorable person. I am certainly not one of the dishonorable people who did not fulfill their duty. I do not even want my acquittal."

The hearing will continue tomorrow with the taking of final statements.

Müyesser YILDIZ

May 12, 2026