President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey targeted newly graduated lieutenants eight days after their Mustafa Kemal Atatürk chanting in a graduation ceremony, in the recent conflict between secularism and Islamism.
Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, symbolizes secularism and national identity in Turkey. On Victory Day, some lieutenants drew their swords and chanted, “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk),” invoking the historical figure’s legacy.
Eight days later, on Sept. 7, Erdoğan publicly criticized these lieutenants during an İmam Hatip religious schools convention. His response, “Exploiters, to whom are you drawing these swords? It is impossible for them to exist in our army. We are taking steps to (dismiss) them quickly,” implies that the incident is seen as a challenge to his leadership and the government’s Islamist-leaning policies.
This public criticism by Erdoğan was a response to the varying reactions within his own dominant party, the AKP. For example, on September 3, the AKP spokesperson, Ömer Çelik, defended the lieutenants, asserting that the insults directed at them were reprehensible. In addition, Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which is affiliated with Erdoğan, issued an equivocal statement that suggested the incident should be thoroughly investigated. This statement hinted at concerns regarding national security and the political ramifications involved.
Opposition politicians, such as Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel, have expressed support for the lieutenants, highlighting Atatürk’s lasting legacy. The episode highlights the deep differences in Turkish society, with secular and nationalist feelings opposing Erdoğan’s conservative and Islamist stances.
The Ministry of National Defence is currently examining the event, therefore there could be ramifications for the personnel involved. The current situation highlights the struggle between Turkey’s secular tradition and the growing influence of political Islam under Erdoğan’s leadership.
