"CHP deputies protest 'lieutenant' against Minister Güler"

In the TBMM Planning and Budget Commission, discussions began regarding the Ministry of National Defense's budget for the year 2025. The commission convened under the chairmanship of AK Party Samsun Deputy Mehmet Muş.

"LIEUTENANT" PROTEST FROM CHP DEPUTIES

Before the meeting, CHP deputies left placards reading "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal" on their seats. When Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler came to shake hands with the CHP deputies, the CHP deputies said, "Is it a crime to be a soldier of Mustafa Kemal? Stand by the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal. Stand by our lieutenants. You have also become a lieutenant." Güler responded, "I will explain shortly. Listen to the Minister, not the press."

WHAT HAPPENED?

During the graduation ceremony of the Army War College on August 30 Victory Day, some of the graduating students raised their swords and chanted in unison, "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal." The students, led by the top student Ebru Eroğlu, took an oath together with the following words:

"We swear that our hands will be found against those who will reach for the independence of the secular, democratic Republic of Turkey, the indivisible integrity of the country, the honor and dignity of the great Turkish nation, and every inch of our sacred homeland, and our swords will always be sharp and ready. We are the children of the Turkish future. We were born with honor, and we will live with honor. How happy is the one who says I am a Turk!"

WHY WERE THE LIEUTENANTS DISCIPLINED?

Sources from the Ministry of National Defense stated in their evaluation to the press on November 18 that "lieutenants who acted in an organized manner, along with other personnel who had intent, fault, negligence, or responsibility," were referred to the Disciplinary Board.

It was noted that among those referred to discipline were lieutenants who were alleged to have organized an alternative oath ceremony, as well as the company commander, battalion commander, and deputy regiment commander.

Ministry sources stated that the number of personnel subjected to action was below 10. Sources indicated that the investigation was not related to the content of the text read or the slogans chanted, stating, "The Turkish Armed Forces cannot have any issues with Atatürk."

MSB sources expressed that the issue was "failure to comply with orders," stating, "What is being questioned here is the indiscipline and the motivation behind it." It was mentioned that the students had applied seven times to read the text but were not granted permission. It was emphasized that the oath in question was first added to the National Defense University Ceremony Directive on January 29, 1999, and was removed from the directive on March 29, 2023.