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“Afghans shall follow the example of Turkish people and keep unity within their ranks,” says Turkish ambassador
By Farhad Naibkhel-KABUL: Scores of Turkish citizens on Thursday came out on the streets here in Afghanistan’s capital city and protested against the failed military coup in Istanbul and Ankara.
Six days ago, some elements in the Turkey’s armed forces plotted a coup to overthrow the democratic government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkish civilians overpowered heavily armed soldiers and tanks in the bloody coup that saw over 240 people killed and more than 1,500 wounded.
Condemning the military coup which has been termed “black stain on Turkey’s democracy”, the protestors put their weight behind the democratic government and announced their support for the Turkish President Erdogan. Students and teachers of the Afghan-Turk schools also participated in the rally.
“Muhammed Fethullah Gülen with the help of some elements in the military had plotted coup in Turkey to create crisis in the country. However, the plot was thwarted by Turkish people while maintain unity among ranks. People showed support for democracy,” Bayram Ali Yilmaz, an organizer of the protest rally, told reporters in Kabul.
He said, “Today we gathered here to defend our country and people. If the attempted coup by terrorists was successful then it would have created crises for Turkey with negative impacts on the whole world.”
The protestors including Afghans commended the Turkish people for resisting the coup and defending the democracy.
The Turkish businessmen and workers who live in Afghanistan asked their government to punish those who committed the “treason” and were behind the failed coup attempt in Turkey in order to prevent same future “tragedies.”
On the occasion Afghan protestors put their weight behind the democratic government in Turkey and said that coup could push the country into the pit of miseries as it did Afghanistan.
Chief of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Sulaiman Shaheen said that Turkish people bravely defended the Constitution and defeated the coup plotters. “Turkish people used themselves as shield to save their country and defend the legal system,” he said.
Turkish ambassador to Kabul, Ali Sait Akin, said that they gathered in Kabul City to announce support for the people and government of Turkey.
Appreciating the Turkish people for exhibiting the ‘grand’ national unity, the ambassador urged the Afghan people to learn from people of Turkey.
“Afghans shall follow the example of Turkish people and keep unity within their ranks. United people can defeat powerful coups and even tanks,” the Turkish ambassador said.
According to media reports more than 6,000 people were arrested in crackdown, 2,839 soldiers held in prison, 2,745 judges are facing arrest after recent failed coup in Turkey.
