Democracy and National Solidarity Day in Turkiye in 2024

Democracy and National Solidarity Day in Turkiye in 2024
Caves in Zelve valley in Cappadocia. Image by AlexGukBO , via Deposit Photos
  How long until Democracy and National Solidarity Day?
Democracy and National Solidarity Day
  Dates of Democracy and National Solidarity Day in Turkiye
2025 Turkiye Tue, Jul 15 National Holiday
2024 Turkiye Mon, Jul 15 National Holiday
2023 Turkiye Sat, Jul 15 National Holiday
2022 Turkiye Fri, Jul 15 National Holiday
2021 Turkiye Thu, Jul 15 National Holiday
  Summary

This public holiday in Turkey marks the failed coup of July 15th 2016

  Local name
Demokrasi ve Millî Birlik Günü

When is Democracy and National Unity Day?

Democracy and National Unity Day is a public holiday in Turkey that is celebrated on July 15th.

The day is commemorated with events honouring those who lost their lives while defeating the failed coup of 2016 and to remember the bravery of the nation. 

History of Democracy and National Unity Day

On July 15th 2016, two hundred and fifty-nine people, mostly civilians, were killed and over 2,500 were wounded after a rogue military faction tried to overthrow President Erdogan.

The attempt to topple President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government was blamed by Ankara on US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, a former ally turned foe of Erdogan. Gulen denies the claims.

The attempt was thwarted by military troops loyal to the government.

In Istanbul, the bridge across the Bosphorus in Istanbul which was the scene of bloody fighting between Erdogan’s supporters and renegade soldiers is now renamed the July 15 Martyrs' Bridge and the square in Ankara where thousands gathered nightly for a month after the coup attempt has been renamed July 15 Kizilay National Will Square.

In 2017, President Erdogan first declared July 15th as a public holiday to commemorate the failed coup.


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