Democracy and National Unity Day Description
Commemorates the civilian resistance against the attempted military coup on July 15, 2016, when thousands of unarmed citizens took to the streets, heeding President Erdogan's call, and confronted soldiers and tanks — a defining moment in modern Turkish history. On the anniversary, nationwide 'Democracy Watches' (Demokrasi Nobetleri) are organized in city squares from dusk until dawn, with the most significant gathering outside the Presidential Complex in Ankara and at the July 15 Martyrs' Bridge in Istanbul. Mosques recite simultaneous sala (prayers for martyrs) at the exact time the coup attempt began. Government officials deliver speeches emphasizing national unity and the triumph of popular will. Government offices, banks, and most businesses close. Memorials bearing the names of the 251 civilians killed that night are visited by mourners. The holiday is a powerful, emotionally charged observance that reinforces the narrative of the people's democratic triumph over military intervention.
