Erdoğan targets lieutenants for Atatürk chanting 8 days after incident

Duvar English

In the new conflict between secularism and Islamism, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan targeted newly graduated lieutenants eight days after their Mustafa Kemal Atatürk chanting in a graduation ceremony. 

During their oath ceremony on Aug. 30, an official holiday known as Victory Day, some lieutenants drew their swords and chanted “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk).” Atatürk is the founder of the Turkish Republic. 

On Sept. 7, eight days after the incident, Erdoğan targeted the lieutenants during an İmam Hatip religious schools convention.

“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” Erdoğan said. He was keeping his silence until this remark.

There were mixed reactions from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) regarding the incident.

The Ministry of National Defense previously launched an investigation into the incident.

However, AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik backed the lieutenants on Sept. 3, saying insulting to them “is unacceptable.”

In an ambiguous announcement, government-ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli said, “The second oath incident must be clarified in every respect, which overshadowed August 30th, preoccupied our country, and gave hope to the enemies and exciting the exploitation lobby.”

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu also backed the lieutenants.

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