The Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Kuwait organized a special commemoration at its Diwaniya Hall on July 16, 2026 to observe July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day. Organizers postponed the gathering by one day in response to a mourning period declared in Kuwait following the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the father of Qatar’s Amir. The ceremony drew members of the Turkish community living in Kuwait, Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs representatives, diplomatic personnel and media outlets, an embassy statement confirmed.
A moment of silence and rendition of the Turkish national anthem opened the proceedings in honor of the martyrs who perished in the July 15, 2016 coup attempt and all others who died for the country. Attendees then heard a recitation from the Holy Qur’an as a further tribute to those who lost their lives. The Fetullahist Terrorist Organization, known as FETÖ, orchestrated the failed takeover bid that the Turkish people ultimately defeated through widespread civilian and official resistance, Turkish government assessments have established.
In her address to the assembly, Ambassador Tuba Nur Sönmez described July 15 as a historic juncture at which the Turkish nation rallied to protect democracy, the national will and the country’s independence. She pointed to the bravery and resolve shown that night as proof of the Republic of Türkiye’s firm adherence to democratic ideals. The ambassador paid respects to the martyrs with words of gratitude and invoked mercy upon them while thanking the veterans who survived the ordeal.
A documentary video formed the next segment of the program, illustrating the sequence of events from the night of July 15, 2016 and the popular pushback that preserved the elected government. Turkish authorities place the death toll from the violence at 251, a figure that includes both civilians and members of the security forces who opposed the plot. The anniversary has grown into a national observance across Türkiye, where it serves as a yearly reminder of unity in the face of threats to constitutional order, according to multiple Turkish state publications.
Guests received servings of Ashoura at the event’s conclusion, a sweet traditionally associated in Turkish culture with themes of unity, solidarity and mutual support. The dessert distribution acted as a tangible expression of the collective spirit the nation exhibited during the 2016 crisis, the embassy explained in its event summary. This symbolic gesture capped a program designed to reinforce bonds within the Turkish expatriate community and with Kuwaiti partners.
Senior Kuwaiti officials joined Ambassador Sönmez for the occasion, among them Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah and Assistant Foreign Minister for International Organizations Affairs Sadeq Marafi. Several other ambassadors from missions accredited to Kuwait formed part of the audience along with additional officials from the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The embassy listed the Turkish community members in Kuwait as key participants in the commemoration activities.
