We won't forget those who allowed Gülenist infiltration into state: CHP leader

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Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has released a message to mark the fourth year anniversary of the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt, slamming the government for allowing followers of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen to infiltrate into state institutions.

In his message, Kılıçdaroğlu commemorated 251 people killed on the night of the attempted coup, which was widely believed to have been orchestrated by Gülenists - an ally-turned-foe of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

"We will never forget our 251 martyrs who lost their lives for democracy, just like we won't forget those who allowed FETÖ infiltration into the state," Kılıçdaroğlu said on Twitter, using an abbreviation of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).

A day earlier, Kılçdaroğlu said that he won't be attending the commemoration ceremony in parliament since lawmakers would not be allowed to speak.

Good (İYİ) Party leader Meral Akşener also released a message, commemorating those killed and wounded during the attempted coup.

"I salute the people who saved their state on the streets," Akşener said.

Future Party leader and former prime minister Ahmet Davutoğlu had a harsher tone against the government in his statement, saying that it disappointed people who thwarted the coup attempt.

He also said that the AKP is "hand in hand" with the putschists of the past.

"Our people have gotten rid of FETÖ putschists, but the government is hand in hand with all the putschists and enemies of democracy from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s," Davutoğlu said.