July 15 is commemorated in Turkey as Democracy and National Unity Day. It marks the anniversary of the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, carried out by a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces allegedly linked to the Gülen movement.
The coup aimed to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the government but was quickly suppressed by loyalist forces and mass civilian resistance.
More than 250 people died and over 2,000 were injured during the clashes. The event is seen as a turning point in modern Turkish history, leading to widespread purges in the military, judiciary, education, and civil service.
