Erdoğan voice message surprises Turkey mobile users on failed coup anniversary

ISTANBUL

Mobile phone users in Turkey were surprised to hear a voice message by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan when placing a call around midnight on the anniversary of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt.

After dialling a number, instead of hearing a dial tone, users heard a voice message from Erdoğan congratulating them on the national holiday of “democracy and unity” that marks the attempted takeover.

Only after Erdoğan’s message did the dial tone begin.

“As president, I send congratulations on the July 15 National Day of Democracy and Unity and wish the martyrs mercy and the heroes [of the defeat of the coup] health and wellbeing,” said the message read by Erdoğan.

Users had in the wake of the coup bid received text messages from the president but this is believed to be the first time a voice message has been employed. 

Also just after midnight salah prayers for victims of the coup bid rang out simultaneously from minarets of 90,000 mosques across Turkey.