Dispute at military graduation ceremony in Türkiye causes rift within ruling AK Party
At the Army War College graduation ceremony of the National Defense University, a group of newly commissioned lieutenants, including the top graduate, drew their swords and chanted, "We are Mustafa Kemal's soldiers." (IHA Photo)
Disagreement at a ceremony in Istanbul, where new lieutenants were officially sworn in as graduates of a military school, has sparked ongoing debates and created divisions within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
The dispute began when the second lieutenants chanted “We are soldiers of Mustafa Kemal (referring to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founding leader of the Republic of Türkiye).”
While the lieutenants highlighted their commitment to secularism as a founding ideology, critics of the ceremony are expressing concerns rooted in conservative sensitivities.
At the same time, critics of the inauguration ceremony believe that it hinted at a military coup.
The AK Party administration, on the other hand, states that the lieutenants did nothing wrong and that they embraced the values set forth by Ataturk, the founder of the state.
However, there are different voices within the AK Party.
Taking notice of the incident, the AK Party Spokesperson Omer Celik, following a party Management Board meeting, stated that no form of guardianship would be tolerated.
“Our Turkish Armed Forces have delivered new graduates. These young individuals are trained for Türkiye’s future. Those who claim ‘the government is targeted’ aim to revive guardianship. Insulting officers trained for the future of the TSK (Turkish Armed Forces) is unacceptable,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Presidential Advisor Yigit Bulut shared Celik’s remarks on X.
What Omer Celik says about ‘the second lieutenants’ and ‘the oath ceremony’ is what it is! The efforts of the rejected outcasts to sow discord between the great Turkish nation and the Turkish Armed Forces are futile! Let’s be cautious of crypto Gulenist Terror Group (FETO) sympathizers, regardless of their party affiliations, who try to incite discord.
Yigit Bulut
Bulut’s description of those criticizing the second lieutenants provoked a strong reaction from former AK Party MP Mehmet Metiner.
“Our party has reached this state because of people like you,” Metiner responded.
He also criticized Bulut on X, stating:
I cannot digest the viewpoint that merely acknowledges the second lieutenants’ homage to Ataturk while failing to directly address the illegal nature of the oath ceremony.
Mehmet Metiner
Metiner censured that Bulut’s rhetoric of accusing everyone who disagrees or criticizes is an expression of insolence.
When did you become more AK Party than the rest of us, using the AK Party’s baton to beat people? Our party has reached this state because of people like you. It’s your language that sows discord!
Mehmet Metiner
Additionally, Metiner accused Bulut of playing dirty tricks. He remarked that using party spokesperson Omer Celik’s name to create the impression that he approves of such rhetoric while targeting those who criticize the illegal oath ceremony of the second lieutenants, is not only beyond insolence but a dirty trick.
What a cunning approach! Using our spokesperson Celik against us and positioning us against Celik and thus the party is the act of lowly individuals who lack the courage to settle personal scores themselves.
Mehmet Metiner
