Shafaq News/ Turkiye’s decision todismiss five officers and three of their direct superiors for swearing an oathof allegiance to the Republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, during theirgraduation ceremony at the Army War College has sparked widespread controversy.
During an August 30 ceremonyattended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, nearly 400 lieutenants raised theirswords and chanted in unison, “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal… We are theguardians of secularism.” The scene was a reminder of the military’s politicalrole in past decades and, according to analysts, underscored the ongoingtension between Kemalist traditions and the rise of Turkish conservatism.
In response, the Turkish Ministry ofDefense announced on Friday the dismissal of the officers over what has come tobe known as the Officers' Demonstration, emphasizing that the militarywill not tolerate any actions that disrupt discipline.
A Divisive Decision
The dismissal decision sparked sharpcriticism from opposition parties. Özgür Özel, leader of the RepublicanPeople's Party (CHP), argued that "the army founded by Atatürk should notbe deprived of its soldiers." Similarly, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğluexpressed his solidarity with the dismissed officers.
On the other hand, PresidentErdoğan's advisor, Mehmet Uçum, defended the decision, stressing that it wasnot about the slogans, but rather the officers' failure to comply with militaryorders. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli also backed thedismissals, warning against "attempts to incite chaos within the country."
Investigations
During the investigation, thedismissed officers defended their actions, insisting they had not violatedmilitary regulations. However, the Ministry of Defense maintained that theirdismissal was not due to the slogans but rather for disrupting military order.
In turn, President Erdogan addressedthe controversy, asking, “Who were these swords directed at?” and affirmingthat all those involved would face appropriate punishment.
Observers argue that the case goesbeyond military discipline, reflecting the ongoing tension between the armedforces and civilian leadership, as well as the broader political influence onthe military amid Turkiye’s shifting landscape. As the debate continues,analysts question the future of civil-military relations in an increasinglypolarized country.
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