July 15 martyrs commemorated in Ankara

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, Security Director General Mahmut Demirtaş, Gendarmerie General Commander General Ali Çardakcı, Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin, political party representatives, military officials, relatives of July 15 martyrs, veterans, and police officers attended the ceremony held at the July 15 Martyrs' Memorial in Karşıyaka Cemetery.

Ministers laid carnations on the graves of the Martyrs

Following a moment of silence at the ceremony, the National Anthem was sung. The Quran was then recited, and Ankara Mufti Hasan Çınar offered a prayer. Ministers Yerlikaya and Göktaş laid carnations at the graves of the martyrs. Yerlikaya and Göktaş also offered their condolences to the families of the martyrs, who shed tears.

'WE WILL NOT LET THEM OPEN ANY EYES'

Saliha Arıkan, the mother of Mucip Arıkan, who was martyred at the General Staff Headquarters, said to Ministers Göktaş and Yerlikaya, "We draw strength from you. I ask you not to give those traitors a chance. May our martyrs' bones not ache. May they rot in prisons. They are eating the state's bread; may it be forbidden for them."

Minister Yerlikaya said, "This is the promise of our nation and state to our 253 martyrs and their families. We will not allow them to open their eyes in any way. We have this strength and sagacity. When we meet Martyr Mucip in the afterlife, let him say, 'I was martyred, but you did not do me justice after I died.' Don't worry."

Ministers Yerlikaya and Göktaş also took photos and chatted with 5-year-old Ömer Halis Çiko, who came to the cemetery to visit with his father.

DHA

Reporter: News Center