Turkish military seeks to dismiss lieutenants for Atatürk chanting during oath ceremony

Duvar English

Turkey’s National Defense Ministry has initiated a discipline process against newly graduated lieutenants for drawing their swords and chanting for the republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, during their oath ceremony.

The ministry officials said the process was initiated against “lieutenants who acted in an organized manner and other personnel with intent, fault, negligence, or responsibility,” BBC Turkish reported on Nov. 18.

During their oath ceremony on Aug. 30, some lieutenants drew their swords and chanted “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk).” 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized them after the incident, and said, “Exploiters, to whom are you drawing these swords? It is impossible for them to exist in our army. We are taking steps to (dismiss) them quickly.”

The incident is seen as another conflict between secularism and Islamism.

While the ministry did not disclose any names, less than 10 people will face a disciplinary process. 

Alongside newly graduated lieutenants, the process reportedly includes three commanders.

The process can lead to their dismissal.

“The Turkish Armed Forces cannot have any problem with Atatürk,” the sources said, adding that the investigation was not related to the content of the text read or the slogan chanted but rather “the lack of discipline and the motivation behind it.”

Accordingly, the students applied seven times to do the move but were denied permission.

Meanwhile, in a joint statement, 52 bar associations in Turkey supported the lieutenants and said, “Declaring allegiance to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is a historical consciousness and responsibility for our officers.”