His Excellency Secretary General,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to express our thanks to you all for joining us this morning on the occasion of the opening of the “15 July Democracy and National Unity Day” photo exhibition, on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the failed coup attempt in Türkiye.

Allow me to express our gratitude to the OIC General Secretariat for hosting this event. This year's commemoration activities are labelled as "Victory of Democracy".

Distinguished Participants,

On the evening of 15 July 2016, a treacherous faction in the Turkish Armed Forces attempted to stage a coup in Türkiye.

The perpetrators of the failed coup attempt were members of the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization, FETÖ in short.

The 15 July failed coup attempt was the most brutal attack against the Turkish nation and state since decades.

From the very beginning, the chain of command and the vast majority of the Turkish Armed Forces and Turkish Police stood up against this heinous coup attempt.

On that night, 251 Turkish people sacrificed their lives and more than 2000 people were wounded in defending the constitutional order.

The perpetrators of have infiltrated the state institutions through deceit and conspiracy.

Their means and methods included cheating at public exams, racketeering, extortion, blackmail, wiretapping, orchestrating sham trials, fabricating evidence, and even murder.

Excellencies,

We appreciated the fact that the overwhelming majority of the international community, including the OIC and its Member States displayed strong solidarity with Türkiye and condemned this henious coup attempt.

In this regard, we welcomed the adoption of a specific resolution at the 43rd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers held in Tashkent, on 18-19 October 2016, which condemned the failed coup attempt orchestrated by FETÖ and called on Member States to take every necessary measure against this terrorist organization.

It is also noteworthy that this has been the most prominent and comprehensive support expressed by any international organization in the aftermath of the failed coup attempt.

The Turkish nation is grateful to the Ummah and the OIC for the strong solidarity shown in their struggle to preserve their democracy.

Before concluding my remarks, allow me to reiterate our thanks and appreciation to the H.E. Secretary General a well as distinguished members of the OIC General Secretariat and diplomatic and consular corps in Jeddah for their participation.