Anti-coup protests, Taksim Square, July 26, 2016. Joti Heir

For the first time in a long time Turkey has woken up to news of detainee releases rather than news of new arrests and warrants in relation to the miserable failure of a putsch on July 15.

Close to 800 conscripts have been released from police custody, a welcome respite for the hundreds of families  that have been camped outside of detention centers.

And in a surprise move, on Friday, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced he would be dropping all lawsuits filed against those accused of insulting him, that number clinks in at around 2000.

Then there is the citizenry, two weeks after the failed coup attempt, the street and square watch is going strong. Every night since July 15, thousands of people hit the streets, waving flags, honking horns while singing the president's name.  City squares have become home to nightly gatherings with music, food and a vibrating nationalism. "How blessed is he who can call himself a Turk," is a common phrase among the citizen watch as is "no to coups and yes to democracy.

Looking out at the crowds in neighborhoods in Istanbul you see little grandmas waving giant Turkish flags and babies with Turkish flag bandannas and moms and dads and kids decked out in Turkish flag t-shirts. The mood is festive and people feel good, they've saved their country they say, they're not going to leave the streets empty they say.

They're not lying, the frenetic honking and cheering of crowds goes well into the nights in the weekdays and into the early mornings on the weekends.

It is a strange time in the country, party limes have been allowed to blur for what officials call the greater good - the good of the country.

In fact, on July 24, the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP) held an anti- coup rally in Taksim Square, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) joined.

That Sunday, the square filled with tens of thousands CHP and AKP supporters, a historic first for an official gathering. Not only was the joint gathering a first, where it happened was significant.

Taksim Square was at the center of the 2013 Gezi Park protests, protests which stemmed from the AKP's plans to redevelop Gezi park with a mall, military barracks and mosque. The protesters on the most part leaned toward the left, and those that didn't lean left  weren't leaning toward Erdoğan either.

As it is now,  Taksim Square filled up every night, from the end of May until June 15, when the Occupy-type movement was cleared by police.

For the first time post-coup attempt, some of the Gezi crowd was back in rally mode thanks to the left-leaning CHP-championed rally. The ideological differences still exist, but now, for many people, those differences take a backseat to protecting the country. You hear it everywhere now, this country is ours and this country is first.

The Return of the Ottomans

 

 The pounding of drums, the rhythmic waving of flags and the passionate cry for democracy and independence pulse through cities, squares, streets and corners across Turkey. This is a new Turkey fuelled by a kind of national pride that can only arose after the people believe they themselves have thwarted a military coup and indeed the way events unfolded, it was the people that went out into the streets and fought the attempted military coup of Turkey
in July 15, 2016.

There was no fear as men and women walked across the bridges that connect Europe to Asia in Istanbul on that might, just a patriotism fuelled by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan via a FaceTime call in CNN, calling his people to the streets.

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Tonight, thousands turned up in the neighbourhood of Beşiktaş on the shores of the Bosphorus near Dolmabahçe Palace to own the streets. The above is in the central square, music and motivation.

It has been 11 days now since the failed coup and every night there are tens of thousands in the squares and streets - guarding the country as they say

Thousands sing Turkish President's name after botched coup

Thousands of Turks celebrate government victory in Taksim

Taksim Square, July 16, 2016. Joti Heir

French diplomatic missions close doors in Turkey

French Consulate Istanbul July 13, 2016/JotiH

On what should have been a day a day of celebration, the French Embassy and Consulate General in Turkey sit quiet.

Police forces are a visible presence around and near the French missions after they were shut down on July 13 due to safety concerns.

The embassy and consulate were set to celebrate Bastille Day on July 14 in Istanbul and July 15 in Ankara. The celebrations were swiftly cancelled after what the French Consular General called a serious threat against planned celebrations for the holiday.

The diplomatic missions will remain closed until further notice. This is a developing story as officials investigate the threat.

Meanwhile the US Embassy in Ankara went ahead with its Independence Day reception on July 13. The reception was scheduled two weeks prior, but was postponed after three suicide bombers attacked Ataturk International Airport on June 28, killing 45 people and injuring hundreds.

Suicide Bombers Terrorize Istanbul

Most Istanbul resıdents stayed safely indoors Wednesday after the attack on the city's Ataturk International Airport. (Joti Heir/CBC)

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There was a nervous calm in the streets of Istanbul Wednesday morning after three suicide bombers launched one of the most lethal attacks in Turkey's recent history.

A cat ran across the empty platform at the normally bustling Sirkeci train station in the city centre. A single bagel seller sat outside looking vacantly at the empty streets. Istanbul was a different city, more sombre, more grey.

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