Editor's note.

• Author: Ataman, Muhittin
• Position: Editorial

The date of July 15, 2016 is a watershed in the history of democracy as well as in the history of Turkey. On the night of July 15, the world witnessed an exceptional and historic event. The Turkish people heroically stood up against the brutal coup plotters; they became an example for other peoples on how to defend your nation and on what is the real meaning of national self-determination. At the same time, they gave a valuable lesson to the Western governments on how to support a democratically elected government. But more than anything, Turkish peopfle proved to themselves that it is they who decide for themselves, for their future. After all, isn't that what democracy is all about?

The memory of what happened on July 15 will never be erased from the minds and hearts of the people who were in Turkey that night. We all lost someone on the night of July 15--a mother, a father, a child, a friend or someone that we did not even know but we broke into tears when we saw them giving their life for this country.

On the night of July 15, the world saw the real face of FETO, a chimera hidden behind the facade of religious discourses. In the late hours of Friday night, the coup plotters started to block the main streets in Istanbul and Ankara. Afraid of a possible terrorist attack people began to go home and follow the situation through the media. Soon it became clear that this was a coup attempt to overthrow the legitimate government. As the people responded by pouring out in to the streets, especially after the call of President Erdogan, the coup plotters realized that their plan was about to fail. Nevertheless, at this point, they started to bomb the governmental buildings such as the Grand National Assembly (TBMM), the Presidential Complex, the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), the Special Forces Headquarters, the Turkish National Police, the AK Party Headquarters and some television channels. Furthermore, the coup plotters shot at civilians in cold blood, killing more than 240 people. More than 2000 people were wounded. The coup plotters betrayed their people and used the nations own weapons against them. However, this did not stop the Turkish people, who with an admirable bravery stayed on the streets until the last unit of coup plotters had surrendered. The coup attempt was then followed by a 25-day long 'democracy watch' where people gathered every night in the city centers of each province in the whole of Turkey to condemn the coup attempt and protect democracy.

The July 15 coup attempt is more than a failed coup, it is a process that is still going on and needs to be analyzed thoroughly. After approximately five months, it is fair to ask what does "July 15" mean...