24 July 2016•Update: 25 July 2016
By Busra Akin Dincer
LONDON
London’s Syrian and Turkish communities came together Sunday to celebrate the failure of the July 15 coup plot in Turkey.
The event in Greenford, north London, was organized by the Peace and Justice for Syria group in cooperation with the Union of European Turkish Democrats in London.
Syrians carrying Turkish flags prayed for the country to continue being peaceful and prosperous.
Members of the crowd also prayed for Syrians in their struggle for freedom and for the country to be liberated. Turkey’s ambassador to the U.K., Abdurrahman Bilgic, told Anadolu Agency that all came together for a “democracy fete” to celebrate the failure of the coup attempt in Turkey.
“We are here today as part of a democracy fete with our Syrian brothers and sisters,” he stated, added: “With our nation, we are all one and united. Here in London, we are in the spirit of solidarity just like the streets of Turkey, with all beauties and colors.
"That’s why everywhere both our citizens and members of the Muslim world are showing their solidarity, feelings and support to each other by not sleeping, just like our brothers in Turkey.”
Muhammed Najjar from the Peace and Justice in Syria group, said Syrian people were grateful for Turkey’s support and, whatever happens, they would stand with the Turkish people.
“Syrian people are sending a message of love and solidarity. They are trying to say in a way: ‘We are with you. Whatever happens to you, we are with you.’
“We don’t want to see what happened in Syria, God forbid, happen in Turkey.
“We don’t want to see a drop of blood on the streets of Ankara or Istanbul, anywhere in Turkey. God bless you all, God bless the Turkish people who opened their houses, their hearts, their schools, hospitals and institutes to the Syrian people.”
A prayer was held during the event for the martyrs who lost their lives on July 15 in Turkey defending democracy.
