July 15th Panel by Collaboration of Yunus Emre Enstitüsü and Maarif Foundation
Organized in Mostar, Sarajevo and Visoko cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the panel "July 15th Coup Attempt With All Aspects" was on the military coup attempt staged by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) on July 15th.
The first of the panels organized by collaboration of Turkish Embassy to Sarajevo, Yunus Emre Enstitüsü and Turkey's Maarif Foundation was held in Mostar, the second in Sarajevo and the third in Visoko with contributions of Visoko Municipality and Preporod Association.
The panel held at Faculty of Political Sciences in University of Sarajevo was broadly participated by faculty students as well as a large number of locals.
Panel started with a speech by Turkish Deputy Secretary of Youth and Sports Minister Abdurrahim Boynukalın. All aspects of FETO's coup attempt were explained and questions from participants were answered in the panel.
Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Abdurrahim Boynukalın said in his opening speech that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent his greetings to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and underlined that Bosnia and Herzegovina is important for Turkey in terms of cultural ties and heritage. Noting that Turkey is thought to have a youth that cannot comprehend its history and past, Boynukalın said, "The youth of Turkey faced the tanks and cannons on July 15th. On that evening, they opened fire on civilians on the bridges. Our youth faced those tanks, cannons and rifles with a distinct awareness. They played an important role, preventing the coup with bare hands.”
Director of Sarajevo Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Mehmet Akif Yaman, emphasized in his speech that they continue to describe the July 15th coup attempt in Turkey in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and spoke as follows: "We organize this panel jointly with the Maarif Foundation which will open schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the coming period. What is FETÖ, what really happened on July 15th in Turkey? These questions will be answered.”
Yaman stating that they wish to correct the misconception that Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), which also has legs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is harmless, said that FETÖ behaves this way because they plan to do harm in the coming period.
"An organization that will harm the notion of living together"
Maarif Foundation Balkan Coordinator Salar Sağır stressed that he personally experienced the July 15th coup attempt and said, "We are a nation that has put its army at a very important place, but on the night of July 15th we were shocked by their actions targeting us." Pointing out that FETÖ had planned the coup attempt for many years, Sağır explained that FETÖ first takes the children away from the society and family, and turns them into members of an organization that acts on its own and individuals who harm their own country. Marking that FETÖ is strong in Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina next to Turkey, Sağır spoke as follows: “People here welcomed them because they are from Turkey. Those affiliated with FETO only benefit their own institutions. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country where culture of tolerance prevails. This is an organization that will harm the notion of living together." Stating that as Maarif Foundation, they believe the schools should be handed to governments of the countries, Sağır noted that the foundation plans to open schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and will launch its operations in the near future.
"FETO runs its dirty traffic through education"
Moderator of the panel Maarif Foundation Board Member Mahmut Özdil stated that FETÖ runs its dirty traffic through education and said, "It is important to explain July 15th correctly. That is why we decided to organize such a panel series in Bosnia and Herzegovina."
Faculty Member in Medipol University Prof. Dr. Bekir Berat Özipek reminded that two military coups and three memorandums took place in the history of Turkish republic and stated that although there are different reasons and excuses behind military coups, military coups always harm people. Relaying that FETÖ also has reasons to stage a coup, Özipek said: "The common point of all military coups in Turkey is they were all staged against the political powers from a certain class. These governments usually represent the lower class. In a sense, these coups target this particular class.”
Medipol University Faculty Member Assist. Assoc. Dr. Yakup Levent Korkut, saying that all military coups are harmful, expressed the following: "If a structure called community secretly organizes and transforms to an attempt to seize power, then this community has no religious qualities."
In the panel, Kırıkkale University Faculty Member Assoc. Dr. Cennet Uslu and Bosnian academic Dr. Senad Hasanagic also informed the participants about FETO's military coup attempt.
