Istanbul Aydın University President Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın pointed out that July 15 not only a date, it is a resistance that has been written in gold letters in history, as the people defended democracy at the cost of their lives. Emphasizing that this great victory, won through the courage of the nation, must not be forgotten or allowed to be forgotten. Prof. Dr. Aydın stated that passing on this awareness to future generations is one of our greatest responsibilities.
Prof. Dr. Aydın stated that all young people and academics were invited to the panel discussion titled “Military Coups and Democracy: July 15” organized by Istanbul Aydın University, and he said that societies that forget their past cannot build their future.
Stating that on the night of July 15, the noble spirit of the nation and its love for the homeland came together to write an epic story of resistance, Prof. Dr. Aydın said that every individual who took to the streets that night proclaimed to the whole world that these lands did not belong to anyone else. Highlighting that a nation which stands up for its homeland can never be defated, Prof. Dr. Aydın said that on that night, not only the land but also honor, will and the future were protected.
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın said, “Because for us, the homeland is the legacy of the past; the nation is the guarantee of the future. On this land, there is no word above the word of the nation. The homeland is not just a place on the map; it is a belief for which one willingly gives one’s life. The nation is not just a community; it is an army of belief that shoulders the burden of history. July 15 is the unshakable unity of these two powers, the homeland and the nation.” He emphasized that the strong will demonstrated that night was not a coincidence but a concrete manifestation of love for the homeland and the nation, and that it is vitally important to keep this consciousness alive and pass it on to each new generation with the same determination.
Emphasizing that a nation that stands up for its homeland will not only stand up for its past but also for its future, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aydın ended his speech by saying, “And we say with same determination from that night to today: WE ARE STILL ON CALL!”
