July 15, 2016: Türkiye's night of defiance

July 15, 2016 seemed like a normal summer evening, with residents of Türkiye's two biggest cities, Istanbul and Ankara, looking eagerly forward to the coming weekend. As the sun set and the warm summer air enveloped the cities, people went about their usual routines — savoring evening meals with their loved ones, trudging wearily to home from work, or coming together for a steamy cup of tea or coffee at local cafes. On the orders of U.S.-based ringleader Fethullah Gülen, FETÖ member putschists who had infiltrated key state institutions, particularly the military, tried to topple the democratically elected government led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The emotionally-charged crowds chanted slogans amid calls echoing from the minarets of the mosques. HOW IT BEGAN 'This will not be tolerated. Those involved will pay the heaviest price,' he added. MIDNIGHT 'This incident, unfortunately, is the coup attempt of a minority within the Turkish Armed Forces. This is a revolt encouraged and used by the parallel structure (FETÖ) as its mastermind,' he said via a video call, urging Turkish people to take to the streets to resist the coup attempt and defend democracy. From there, they went to the nearby Dalaman Airport, where a presidential plane was waiting to take them to a safe location-initially, the capital Ankara, though Erdoğan ordered the pilots to take him and his family to Istanbul's Atatürk Airport instead. THE RESISTANCE In what would become another symbol of defiance in the face of the putschists, a Turkish senior staff sergeant, Ömer Halisdemir, shot dead senior coup plotter Semih Terzi. THE TIDE TURNS Back in Marmaris, helicopters opened fire on the hotel where President Erdoğan had stayed before leaving for Istanbul. Masked soldiers in heavy gear besieged the hotel, injuring five police officers. A NEW DAWN After 8 a.m., Gen. Hulusi Akar was rescued from pro-coup forces.

July 15, 2016: Türkiye's night of defiance

On the night of July 15, 2016, thousands of courageous men and women in Türkiye took to the streets to defend democracy against a coup attempt orchestrated by the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).