Turkey’s Ministry of Defense has launched an investigation into a group of newly commissioned military officers who chanted a slogan referencing the country’s secular founder after their graduation ceremony, the Gazete Duvar news website reported.
The officers, who graduated from the Turkish Military Academy on August 30, were recorded chanting, “We are Mustafa Kemal’s soldiers,” while brandishing swords after the official ceremony had concluded. The slogan, which refers to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey and a staunch advocate of secularism, sparked controversy after videos of the event circulated on social media.
The incident took place in the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and quickly became a flashpoint in the country’s ongoing political and cultural tensions.
The footage drew mixed reactions, with some praising the cadets for honoring Turkey’s founding principles, while others criticized the act as inappropriate for members of the military, sparking a heated political debate.
Pro-government members of Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) accused the graduates of reviving “old coup-era sentiments.”
Turkey saw violent coups in 1960 and 1980, but under Erdoğan, who survived an abortive putsch in 2016, the political strength of the military has been drastically curtailed.
The Ministry of Defense issued a statement on Thursday confirming the investigation and warning that any personnel found to have violated military regulations would face disciplinary action.
“There is no tolerance for any actions that go against military discipline in the Turkish Armed Forces,” the ministry said. “The matter is being thoroughly investigated, and if any negligence, misconduct or fault is identified, appropriate measures will be taken.”
The ministry emphasized that the footage had been “taken out of context” and used to fuel political debates, adding that the Turkish Armed Forces remains committed to its values of discipline and service to the nation. It called on the public to disregard attempts to manipulate the incident for political purposes.
The incident at the graduation ceremony reflects the deep divisions within Turkey over its identity and future direction. President Erdoğan, who has positioned himself as a defender of conservative and religious values, has often clashed with secularists who see him as a threat to the principles established by Atatürk.
In its statement the defense ministry warned against attempts to tarnish the military’s reputation, noting that legal action would be taken against individuals who defamed the military or its personnel on social media.