Turkey has aired messages on Times Square billboards to mark the anniversary of the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt, widely believed to have been orchestrated by the movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen.
Pictures of the 251 people who died during the thwarted coup are displayed alongside the message, « Our heroes. »
« Victory of Democracy, » read another.
The messages are set to be aired for nine hours.
The coup is widely believed to have been orchestrated by U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, whose network is officially called the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).
Gülen is an ally-turned-foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Their past alliance paved the way for the Gülenists to infiltrate into state organizations.
During the coup attempt, hundreds of thousands poured to the streets to stop putschists upon Erdoğan’s call.
A total of 251 people were killed and scores were injured.
