Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reaffirmed his commitment to punish recent graduates of the Turkish Military Academy who chanted a secularist slogan during their August 30 graduation ceremony, BBC’s Turkish service reported on Friday.
In comments made upon returning from the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, Erdoğan criticized the graduates for chanting “We are Mustafa Kemal’s soldiers,” a reference to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey and a symbol of secularism.
During the graduation ceremony, some cadets brandished swords while chanting the slogan.
Erdoğa labeled the act disruptive and vowed to ensure that those involved face consequences, saying, “This incident was the result of a few individuals creating confusion. We will make sure those responsible receive the punishment they deserve.” He emphasized that the Turkish military is not the venue for what he described as politically motivated acts, adding, “This is not a place where those who act without discipline can operate.”
Erdoğan had previously pledged to expel the graduates involved in the incident.
The Ministry of Defense has launched an investigation into the incident, pledging to take disciplinary action against any personnel found to have violated military regulations. Defense Minister Yılmaz Tunç confirmed that the ministry would examine the “background” of the event.
Opposition politicians, particularly from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), have criticized Erdoğan’s response.
CHP leader Özgür Özel defended the cadets, arguing that the sword display and chant were part of a long-standing military tradition. “It’s hard to understand why this year it suddenly became an issue,” Özel said, accusing Erdoğan of using the incident to divert attention from other political challenges.
İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu also condemned Erdoğan’s comments, asserting that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is a shared symbol of national unity. “It’s shocking to see such intolerance over a slogan that unites millions,” İmamoğlu said.
The incident has reignited longstanding cultural and political divisions in Turkey, particularly between Erdoğan’s supporters, who favor a conservative, religious vision for the country, and secularists, who remain staunchly aligned with Atatürk’s principles.
The August 30 ceremony commemorated Turkey’s Victory Day, which marks the 1922 defeat of Greek forces in the Turkish War of Independence. Videos of the cadets chanting the slogan circulated widely on social media, with critics and supporters engaging in heated debates.
Erdoğan, who has held power since 2003, survived a failed coup in 2016 and has since dramatically reduced the influence of the military in Turkish politics. Pro-government figures argue that the secularist chant could signal a return to the coup-era military sentiments that have destabilized Turkey in the past.
However, opposition figures insist that the chant is a patriotic act and should not be viewed as a political statement. CHP Deputy Chairman Yankı Bağcıoğlu questioned the priorities of Erdoğan’s government, stating, “While we face provocations in the Aegean and Mediterranean, focusing on internal military ceremonies only serves to distract from foreign policy failures.”