President Erdoğan: On the night of July 15, the target was our entire nation, along with ourselves and our family

President Erdoğan laid a wreath at the monument on the July 15 Martyrs' Bridge and attended the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day Commemoration Program at the Presidential Complex.

Here are the highlights from Erdoğan's speech:

"Welcome all to the Presidential Complex, the home of the nation. On the 8th anniversary of the July 15 uprising, we are united with one another in this veteran venue and across all 81 of our provinces. Just as we were 8 years ago, we are shoulder to shoulder today.

All 85 million of us are one fist. As a member of this noble nation and as the President of Turkey, I would like to express my satisfaction with this magnificent picture of brotherhood before me.

Today is the 8th anniversary of the epic resistance written by the nation against the FETÖ coup plotters. Just as we were 8 years ago, we are one and together today.

"THE VETERAN PARLIAMENT SAID STOP TO THE PUPPETS OF IMPERIALISM"

I offer my gratitude to our heroes who stood fearlessly against the planes and helicopters that flocked to the streets and squares that night, writing a feast of independence. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) showed once again that night that it is the people's parliament and the representative of the national will.

The Veteran Parliament, which emerged victorious by resisting the seven great powers 104 years ago, this time said stop to the puppets of imperialism during the July 15 betrayal.

I thank all the esteemed members of our Parliament, regardless of their political party, who were honored with veteran status for the second time that night.

"MERCY TO THE OPPRESSOR IS CRUELTY TO THE OPPRESSED"

Those who extended their dirty hands by taking orders from the charlatan abroad have gone down in our history as a black stain. Neither we will forgive, nor will our nation, which laid 252 of its children to rest in the black soil, forgive.

Today, I underline and emphasize again: mercy to the oppressor is cruelty to the oppressed.

If we show mercy to those who martyred 29 of our people in the very region we are in now, to those who ruthlessly tore our young children, only 15-16 years old, away from us, to those who pointed the weapons entrusted to the honor of the state at the nation and massacred them, and to those who shed the blood of so many fine young people, we would be ashamed before our heroic veterans.

OUR PAIN AND OUR ANGER ARE FRESH

Even though 8 years have passed, our pain and our anger are fresh. Our determination to fight against FETÖ and tutelage is as alive, strong, and standing as it was on the first day.

We will not compromise on this determination under any circumstances.

We will continue our fight against the enemies of national will and democracy with determination. We will carry out this process with sensitivity until the last coup plotter is held accountable before the judiciary.

"THE TARGET WAS OUR ENTIRE NATION"

On the night of July 15, we did not just repel an occupation attempt. At the same time, we protected our independence and our future. That night, it was not just the AK Party and our government that were targeted. That night, it was not just our state's security units and our media organizations that were targeted. The target was our entire nation, along with ourselves and our family; it was all 85 million members of the nation."

They wanted to collapse the existence of the nation and state that has come down to us since 1071. The target was our entire nation. It was all 85 million members of the nation. They aimed to bring the Republic of Turkey to its knees.

Despite the folders full of evidence we presented after July 15, they continued to support the coup plotters and their ringleaders.

They embraced the FETÖ traitors. Terrorists who participated in the coup in Turkey and shed the blood of our people can walk freely in Western capitals that constantly lecture us on democracy.

We, together with the People's Alliance (Cumhur İttifakı), have taken an important step and established our necessary measures. They try to pass off their protection of the coup plotters to us by calling it law and justice. It has nothing to do with law or democracy. The only reason for backing FETÖ is to put this pawn they used on the night of July 15 back in front of us.

Whoever had a hand in the coups carried out in our country since 1960, that same master mind was in action with all its elements during the July 15 betrayal. The signal flare for July 15 was fired immediately after our 'One Minute' outburst. The strong support we, as ourselves and our government, provided to the Palestinian cause had disturbed the agents. As Turkey began to act independently in foreign policy, the anxiety of these circles emerged.

"OUR NATION, THE TRUE HERO OF THAT NIGHT, WILL ALSO PROTECT ITS VICTORY"

We will not allow our spiritual and national values, behind which the FETÖ members hide, to be eroded. We are taking and will continue to take every necessary measure to ensure that we do not face attacks like May 27, September 12, February 28, or July 15. We are following the efforts of some to cast aspersions on the July 15 uprising with dismay and sadness. Some people come out and refrain from sharing the excitement of the nation with flimsy excuses.

Whatever their name, title, or rank, whoever speaks ill of July 15, their target is the nation and democracy. Whoever belittles the nation's victory and slanders it by calling it theater, their true purpose is to pay their debt of gratitude to their FETÖ masters. We have not given credit to them, and we will not.

Our nation, with its profound wisdom, sees this insidious intention. They did everything to curry favor with FETÖ and the master mind that uses it. Whatever they did, they have not been able to reach their goals for 8 years. Hopefully, they never will. Our nation, the true hero of that night, will also protect its victory.

No one has the power to make the sacrifices of those who fell as martyrs right beside us seem insignificant. Every July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day, we will both commemorate our heroic martyrs and properly comprehend this important day. May the Almighty be our helper and supporter.