People were seen walking down the streets, cheering and carrying national flags. Women and children also attended the celebrations.
Ruptly’s video from Taksim Square shows people singing, clapping and chanting. At another point, music was heard, as people lit up fireworks.
Earlier in the day, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke to the public in Istanbul. During his speech he asked the US to not get involved and extradite or arrest the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. Erdogan has accused Gulen of being behind the coup attempt.
“Dear President Obama, I told you this before, arrest Fethullah Gulen or return him to Turkey. You didn’t listen. I call you on you again, after the coup attempt – extradite this man from Pennsylvania to Turkey. If we are strategic partners, do what is necessary,” Erdogan said. He also explicitly called any nation supporting Gulen “an open enemy of Turkey.”
Gulen, the leader of the Hizmet movement, has denied Erdogan’s accusations, while US Secretary of State John Kerry asked Turkey to provide “any legitimate evidence” against Gulen.
In one of the latest developments, Turkey ordered 2,745 judges and prosecutors to be detained in connection to Friday’s events, broadcaster NTV reported.
212