A panel on July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day was organized at GİBTÜ.

A panel and exhibition titled ‘The Victory of the Nation Who Defended the Country at All Costs’ was organized by Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University (GİBTÜ) on the occasion of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day. The program, which started with a moment of silence and the National Anthem, continued with a visual presentation prepared by the Presidency’s Communications Directorate. Then, Prof. Dr. Şehmus Demir, the Rector of GİBTÜ, delivered the opening speech of the panel. Prof. Dr. Şehmus Demir stated that the treacherous coup attempt carried out by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) on July 15, 2016, was thwarted thanks to the courage and honorable resistance of our heroic nation, emphasizing that this behavior serves as a historical lesson and victory for everyone. He emphasized the importance of analyzing the structuring before and after July 15, highlighting that no privileges should be granted to any religious group, and the state should stand at an equal distance from all religious NGOs. He emphasized the need for us to use our minds and not surrender them to anyone. He pointed out that all conflicts that seem religious or sectarian are actually political conflicts, and these conflicts are struggles to open up space for politics. After the speeches of Rector Prof. Dr. Şehmus Demir, the panel moderated by Assoc. Dr. Mahmsum Aytepe began. Aytepe made a general assessment of our democratic culture. In the program, Assoc. Dr. Muhyettin İğde presented ‘Religion and Religious Exploitation in Historical Process: Problems and Solution Suggestions’, while Assoc. Dr. Erol Erkan presented a session titled ‘Religious Groups from a Civil Society Perspective’. The program concluded with a visit to the ‘Victory of the Nation Exhibition’ in the foyer area, accompanied by Rector Prof. Dr. Şehmus Demir, university management, and participants.