One year after the deadly coup attempt of July 15, 2016, the ambassadors to Turkey from Jordan and Palestine recounted for Anadolu Agency their memories and perspective on the aborted coup against Turkish democracy.
The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the coup attempt on July 15 last year which martyred 250 people and injured nearly 2,200 others.
Jordan’s ambassador
“Nobody expected such a thing to happen in Turkey,” Jordan’s ambassador to Turkey, Amjad al-Adaileh, told Anadolu Agency.
Al-Adaileh said that he was on a visit to Jordan when the coup attempt took place and he got the urgent news from Turkey by phone.
“It was shocking news,” he said, and it was not expected “especially at this time, when the Middle East region needs Turkey and its stability, its prosperity, as well as its support to ensure security and stability in the region’s areas of tension.”
He followed the news until the morning before heading back to Ankara to follow developments more closely.
Al-Adaileh said that the Middle East faces terrorism and violence and thus needs someone to act as a regional actor, stressing the significance of Turkey’s role.
“After the foiled coup attempt, his highness King Abdullah II expressed Jordan’s solidarity with Turkey and his keenness for its security, stability, and continuance of its role in keeping peace and security in the region.
On the attack on the Turkish parliament, the Jordanian ambassador said, “Without a doubt that was an act worthy of condemnation because it targeted a building that symbolizes democracy and the will of the people.”
“When I visited the bombed-out section of parliament, I felt regret at the targeting of parliament, which has always incarnated the will of the Turkish people and its democratic choice since the establishment of the modern Turkish Republic by the country’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.”
On Turkish people’s reaction to the coup attempt, al-Adaileh said, “The Turkish people are civilized, cultural, belong to their homeland, and aware of the challenges that Turkey faces.”
He stressed that the coup was foiled thanks to the “strong reaction” of the Turkish people that protected state institutions and democracy.
“The stance of the people from different political parties and affiliations, opposition and pro-government alike, marked the final decisive word that foiled the coup and saved Turkey’s achievements of past decades.
“On the first anniversary of the foiled coup attempt, I would like to express my sincere wishes for Turkey and its friendly people for further development and continued prosperity, security, stability, and welfare.”
Palestinian ambassador
For his part, Palestinian Ambassador to Turkey Faid Mustafa said that on the night of the coup bid, he was worried about the fate of Turkey itself.
"After getting the first news, I went directly to the embassy office to follow developments from there, where I stayed until the early hours of the morning, the hours that showed the signs of failure of the coup attempt."
He added, "What was happening was surprising and not understandable at all."
"It was so confusing even for Turkish citizens, who didn’t realize exactly what was going on until it mostly became clear," Mustafa said.
"Me, myself, I was worried about the fate of Turkey that night," he added,
"For me, it is strange to see warplanes in Ankara’s skies or tanks in Kizilay Square” -- the iconic central square in the capital -- “and all of that made me very concerned for Turkey, its fate, achievements, and its stability."
On the putschists targeting parliament, Mustafa said, “Parliament is the house of the people, which should be protected and maintained in all circumstances, not bombarded by warplanes."
After the failure of the coup attempt, Mustafa went to the parliament building to attend the emergency session of July 16, and as he drew near he saw the effects of the destruction there, and a scene that “was very ugly and harsh."
"Here, we should note that the behavior of the Turkish MPs was responsible and wise, as they showed their unity in the face of these dangers despite narrow partisan differences," Mustafa said.
As for the role of the Turkish people in foiling the coup attempt, Mustafa called it "the most admirable thing in that painful scene."
"The Turkish people proved how great they are and how much they love their country and their soil. Turkish people proved their keenness to protect their achievements and gains in democracy and their readiness to defend their legitimacy.
"The Turkish people that time gave a lesson to all peoples in the region and the world."
On the role of the cohesion of the Turkish leadership in thwarting the coup attempt, Mustafa argued, "It was also a big dynamic behind the victory of that night, indeed, it was a turning point since Turkish people made an immediate response to the call by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for them to take to the streets and fields."