Several graduates and commanders of Turkey’s military academy are facing disciplinary action for organizing a controversial oath ceremony involving a secularist chant, BBC’s Turkish service reported on Monday, citing the defense ministry.
Graduates and commanding officers involved in a Turkish Military Academy graduation ceremony on August 30 have been referred to the High Disciplinary Board over allegations of organizing an unauthorized oath ceremony featuring the chant “We are Mustafa Kemal’s soldiers,” the ministry of defense confirmed.
The controversial oath ceremony was led by valedictorian Ebru Eroğlu, who directed graduates in raising their swords and chanting in a display that invoked Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey and a symbol of secularism. The event quickly became a flashpoint for political debate after videos circulated widely on social media.
Defense ministry sources told Turkish media on Monday that both the cadets and their commanding officers, including a battalion commander, a regiment commander and a deputy brigade commander, were among those referred for disciplinary proceedings. The sources did not disclose the names of those involved.
Earlier reports indicated Eroğlu and another graduate, both serving as lieutenants in Turkish Armed Forces, face possible expulsion from the army.
Defense ministry officials emphasized that the investigation does not concern the content of the oath or the slogan itself but focuses on violations of military discipline and unauthorized actions.
“The Turkish Armed Forces have no issues with Atatürk,” a defense ministry official told Turkish media, adding that the case revolves around disobedience and the motivations behind the event.
According to reports, students had requested permission to recite the oath seven times prior to the ceremony, all of which were denied. The oath, which dates back to 1999, was removed from the official guidelines of the National Defense University on March 29, 2023.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who had presented Eroğlu with her diploma during the ceremony, previously criticized the incident, labeling it as disruptive.
“This was caused by a few individuals creating confusion. Those responsible will face the necessary consequences,” Erdoğan said on September 26, adding that the military is not a venue for undisciplined acts.
The incident has drawn sharp reactions from some opposition leaders, who defended the cadets and criticized the government’s response. Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel described the oath as a traditional act and questioned why it was deemed problematic this year.
“These cadets upheld a tradition to honor Atatürk and our nation. Are you now going to punish the valedictorian you awarded?” Özel said.
The defense ministry confirmed that fewer than 10 personnel are subject to disciplinary proceeding, and a decision will be made by the High Disciplinary Board.
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.
Some members of the public have praised 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.
Erdoğan, who has held power since 2003, survived a failed coup in 2016 and has dramatically reduced the influence of the military in Turkish politics. Pro-government figures argue that the secularist chant could signal a return to earlier eras of a pro-military sentiment 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.