CHP leader Özel reacts strongly to the expulsion request for lieutenants.

CHP General Chairman Özgür Özel reacted strongly to the decision to refer two newly graduated lieutenants to the disciplinary board with a request for their expulsion due to the sword oath taken during the graduation ceremony at the Army Academy. Özel stated, "Since when has loyalty to Atatürk been considered a crime in this country? Were they going to say we are Trikopis's military? Like your Fez-wearing teacher who said, 'I wish the Greeks had won...'”

REQUEST FOR EXPULSION OF TWO LIEUTENANTS IN THE SWORD OATH INVESTIGATION

During the graduation ceremony held at the Army Academy on August 30, the newly graduated lieutenants shouted "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal" and took an oath with swords after the protocol left the area, which led to discussions. The investigation initiated after the incident has reached its conclusion. As part of the investigation, notifications were made regarding the referral of Lieutenant Ebru Eroğlu and Lieutenant İzzet Talip Akarsu to the High Disciplinary Board with a request for their expulsion from the Turkish Armed Forces.

CHP LEADER ÖZEL: THOSE LIEUTENANTS ARE ATATÜRK'S SOLDIERS

CHP General Chairman Özgür Özel expressed a strong reaction regarding the incident. In a statement on his social media account, Özel used the following expressions: "It is unacceptable to refer the lieutenants who took an oath of loyalty to Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, along with the top graduate of the Army Academy, Lieutenant Ebru Eroğlu, to the disciplinary board with a request for expulsion. Since when has loyalty to Atatürk been considered a crime in this country? Those lieutenants are Atatürk's soldiers."

"THIS GROSS ERROR MUST BE REVERSED IMMEDIATELY"

Were they going to say we are Trikopis's military? Like your Fez-wearing teacher who said, 'I wish the Greeks had won...' The political authority must immediately reverse this gross error that is dragging the Turkish Armed Forces. Otherwise, they will be held accountable for this decision in front of history."

İMAMOĞLU: I WILL ALWAYS STAND BY ATATÜRK'S SOLDIERS

On the other hand, İBB President Ekrem İmamoğlu also stated the following in his statement: "The decision regarding the expulsion request for our young lieutenants is very unfortunate. Young members of the Turkish Armed Forces who have committed no crime and have been successful have already been sufficiently victimized. I will always stand by the soldiers of the Republic and Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with all my support."

WHAT HAPPENED?

After the graduation ceremony at the Army Academy on August 30, the lieutenants held a sword-crossing ceremony and shouted "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal."

The students, led by the top graduate Ebru Eroğlu, took the oath in unison with the following words: "We swear that we will be found against hands that 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. 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!"

These images were shared on social media accounts and subsequently became a topic of political discussion. Following the sword-crossing ceremony of the lieutenants, strong reactions came from the ruling side, and an investigation was initiated against the lieutenants.