Numan Kurtulmuş's message for a terror-free Türkiye: 86 million hands in hand

In his speech at the 4th Martyr Mustafa Cambaz Photography Contest Award Ceremony held at the Rami Library, Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş stated that July 15th is not just a memory for Turkey , but a national consciousness. Kurtulmuş stated that 86 million citizens must join hands to carry Turkey to a future free of terrorism.

Kurtulmuş began his speech by offering his condolences to Yeni Şafak photojournalist Mustafa Cambaz, who was martyred in the FETÖ coup attempt on July 15, 2016, and to all the martyrs. He emphasized that the competition was not merely an awards ceremony but a sign of respect for the martyrs. Expressing his gratitude to Yeni Şafak and the Albayrak Group, Kurtulmuş stated that the photography competition holds great significance in upholding the legacy of the martyrs.

Recalling the verse from the Quran, "Do not call those killed in the path of Allah dead," read at the beginning of the program, Kurtulmuş noted that following in the footsteps of the martyrs and embracing their struggle is a human and Islamic responsibility. He stated that this ceremony is a human response to a divine decree.

Kurtulmuş stated that July 15th was not just a historical event but one of the most critical turning points since the late Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey. He added that the coup attempt was a dark plan with international connections, but that this treacherous plan was thwarted thanks to the courage and determination of the Turkish nation.

Recalling that on the night President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the people to the squares, thousands of citizens like Mustafa Cambaz took to the streets and prevented the coup attempt, Kurtulmuş stated that the night of July 15th was also a night when the spirit of heroism and national solidarity reached its peak.

Kurtulmuş said, "What drives this nation to the streets is love for the country, love for the flag, and the ideal of independence. July 15th is not a memory, but a consciousness. It is the day this country embraced its national ideal, and its people demonstrated conscious resistance."

Kurtulmuş, delivering a message of unity and solidarity, said that Türkiye must put aside its differences and prepare for even more challenging conditions in the new era. He stated, "We will put aside all our differences and continue on our path as one, united, strong, and strong, all together, as brothers."

Kurtulmuş stated that Türkiye's power directly impacts not only its own citizens but also countries in the region, stating that the fight against terrorism is not just a matter of internal security but also the key to regional peace. "A strong Turkey means a strong region," he said.

Kurtulmuş, announcing that Türkiye has entered a crucial process to end its more than 50-year history of terrorism, said, “The children of this country will no longer hear the sound of gunfire in the mountains, but rather the songs of unity and solidarity. They will be intertwined with science, art, culture, and literature. As 86 million people, we are silencing all weapons to fortify our inner fortress and continuing on our path toward unity and solidarity.”

Kurtulmuş also pointed out that if the July 15th coup had been successful, Türkiye would have long since been fragmented, saying, "If they have a mind and a plan, we have a mind and a plan. If they teach division, we will succeed in uniting."

Kurtulmuş emphasized the importance of acting in unity and solidarity against the division and fragmentation scenarios that have been emphasized since the early 1990s, and stated that martyrs have an illuminating role in Türkiye's future.

At the awards ceremony, Kurtulmuş presented awards to Aydın Sertbaş, who received the "Complete the Story" special award for his work titled "Evening Lesson at Rami," Orhan Fatih Doğan, who won the award in the "New Generation Photographs (Drone)" category with his work "Return," and Uğur Yıldırım, who won the award in the "News Photos That Left Their Mark in 2024" category with his work "Lebanese Baby."