Turkey held national commemorative events Wednesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the failed July 15, 2016, coup attempt [1].

The anniversary serves as a reaffirmation of the state's stability and a reminder of the violence that occurred when elements of the military attempted to seize power. It also reinforces the government's ongoing legal and political campaign against the movements it blames for the uprising.

In Ankara, the Grand National Assembly building was illuminated to honor those who died during the unrest. In Istanbul, a drone light show was staged over the Bosphorus Strait to symbolize national unity [1]. These events coincided with commemorations held across the country and at diplomatic missions abroad, including in London and at the Turkish embassy in the U.S. [2, 3].

Official records from the commemoration highlight the human cost of the 2016 events, citing 253 deaths and 2,734 people wounded [1].

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the nation during the events. "We will never forget the martyrs of July 15 and will continue to protect our Republic," Erdoğan said [4].

Government officials continued to attribute the plot to the FETO movement, led by Fetullah Gülen. A spokesperson for the Turkish embassy in Washington said, "The treacherous terrorist organization, FETO, tried to topple the elected government" [2].

Mustafa Şentop, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly, noted the symbolic nature of the celebrations. "The lighting of the Parliament building and the drone show over the Bosphorus symbolize our unity and resolve," Şentop said [2].

“"We will never forget the martyrs of July 15 and will continue to protect our Republic,"”

The 10th anniversary commemorations underscore the enduring influence of the 2016 coup attempt on Turkey's domestic policy and international relations. By centering the narrative on 'resistance' and the threat of the FETO movement, the Turkish government uses these events to consolidate national identity around the legitimacy of the elected government and to justify continued security measures against perceived internal threats.