Fight for democracy takes off with Turkish Airlines campaign


The national carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) is joining an ongoing campaign to inform foreigners on what happened on July 15, the fateful night when Turkey fended off a coup attempt by the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).A report prepared by Turkish think tank the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA) on the coup attempt is being distributed in-flight to THY passengers.The report, entitled "Democracy Watch: Social Perception of 15 July Coup Attempt," offers an insight into the putsch attempt staved off by pro-democracy civilians who braved gunfire by pro-coup troops to prevent them from carrying out a complete takeover of the state. The campaign also gives an account of the "democracy watch," which are month-long nationwide rallies called upon by the country's leaders to show solidarity against the coup attempt.Some 241 people, including unarmed civilians hit by tank fire and warplanes, were killed during the coup attempt blamed on Gülenists whose sympathizers within the armed forces allegedly spearheaded the plot to topple the government and kill the president.Ankara is complaining of the lack of international support for the public's struggle to defeat the coup and have been engaged in public diplomacy efforts to better inform the international community on the coup attempt amid a campaign of disinformation blaming Ankara, rather than the coup plotters, for the coup attempt.