Turkish nightclub cancels ‘coup attempt anniversary party’ after criticism

ANTALYA/KONYA

A Turkish nightclub has canceled a party it organized for the first year anniversary of the deadly July 15, 2016, failed coup attempt after receiving widespread criticism. 

The nightclub, which has two branches in the Kemer district of the southern province of Antalya and the Central Anatolian province of Konya, previously announced that a “July 15 Democracy Party” would be held on the night of July 15 with a poster showing people stopping tanks used by coup soldiers. 

“No entrance fee will be taken from people who dress red and white or come with a Turkish flag,” the poster read.
 
On July 15, 2016, coup plotters blocked roads and bombed state institutions, including the parliament, before the attempted takeover was thwarted with the help of citizens resisting putschist soldiers on the streets.

A total of 250 people were killed and hundreds of others were wounded on the night of the attempted coup and events were organized across Turkey to commemorate those killed. 

The nightclub’s party announcement was retracted couple of hours later, with the owners saying that “the event’s purpose was distorted on social media and was taken out of context.”

They also said the nightclub was hosting events for Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day on May 19 and Victory Day on Aug. 30, which are celebration days for the Turkish nation. 

“Our club planned this organization after perceiving July 15 as a day that our nation made history and feelings that stem from that just like hosting events on May 19 and Aug. 30,” the statement said, adding that they “are sorry about the issue.” 

“The events organized to mark the July 15 Democracy and Freedoms Day were distorted on social media. Our business sees the day as an independence day when our people won a glorious victory. The team that organizes our club’s events planned this party with completely pure and patriotic emotions,” the statement also read. 

In addition, the owners said the organization was brought to a point that would insult the “relatives of the martyrs and the precious values of our nation.”

“We apologize to the martyrs’ relatives and our sacred nation because of the advertisement published on our social media account, even though it remained there for a short period of time,” they said.