Lieutenant Ebru’s chilling defense: 'The Turkish Nation always has the final word'

The lawsuit filed by Ebru Eroğlu, the top graduate of the Military Academy who was dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) for reciting the Officer’s Oath and saying “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal” after the official part of the graduation ceremony had concluded, has been unanimously rejected.

I want to tell you about what happened during the hearing held on March 5 at the Ankara 4th Administrative Court, which issued this decision.

It was a Tuesday. The hearing was scheduled for 10:45 AM. However, the panel, anticipating that it would take a long time, left Ebru Eroğlu’s case for last. Indeed, it was a long hearing by administrative court standards.

While Ebru Eroğlu, along with the other 4 lieutenants who were also dismissed from the TSK and their lawyers, were waiting for the hearing, many employees of the Administrative Court came to meet Lieutenant Ebru, saying they wanted to hug her and take photos with her. Among those who came was the wife of a soldier who had been martyred by the PKK.

What Surprised the Court President and Made Him Laugh?

As is known, administrative court hearing rooms are small and have few chairs. Therefore, not only the other dismissed lieutenants who came to support Ebru Eroğlu but also many lawyers watched the hearing standing up.

The first defense on behalf of Lieutenant Ebru was made by lawyer Demet Reçber Öztürk. Emphasizing that the second-place graduate had recited the Officer’s Oath at the battalion party held at the school the night before the August 30 graduation ceremony without any issues, lawyer Öztürk reminded the court that the acting battalion and regiment commanders had not given any orders to the lieutenants regarding the time after the official ceremony. While explaining what the commanders were doing while the lieutenants were crossing their swords on the field using images projected on the wall, lawyer Reçber said, “Look, they have no reaction. They continue to sit in the stands because this is a tradition.” Lawyer Reçber concluded her words as follows:

“This celebration among the lieutenants took place after the announcement that ‘the ceremony has ended’ and the protocol had left the area. It is impossible for them to know that the protocol had left the ceremony area but not the school. Furthermore, what if they hadn’t left? What they said was: ‘We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal, how happy is the one who says I am a Turk.’”

Lawyer Mustafa Güler, in his long and very detailed defense, drew attention to the irregularities in the disciplinary investigation process. Noting that the company commander of the Artillery School, where Lieutenant Ebru was assigned, was dismissed because he did not express an opinion in favor of referring Ebru Eroğlu to disciplinary action, and that his successor displayed a similar attitude, lawyer Güler summarized his points as follows:

“If the investigation documents are incomplete or if the documents have been altered, one cannot speak of a fair trial there. The High Disciplinary Board of the Land Forces Command may have made its decision under pressure, but you will make a decision on behalf of the Turkish Nation. If those opinions had not been changed, the High Disciplinary Board would not have been able to convene. Even if it had, witnesses would have been heard, and the witnesses would have said, ‘Yes, we were pressured,’ and the decision would not have turned out this way again. They clearly acted unlawfully. The Officer’s Oath was recited at all ceremonies between 1995 and 2022. It was also recited 15 days before the ceremony at the Military Academy at the Special Forces Command ceremony in front of the Minister of National Defense. What is the accusation directed at Ebru Eroğlu and the other lieutenants? That ‘they created opposition in society, their actions were a protest.’ A protest? What are they protesting? They are saying, ‘We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal.’ Look, while waiting for the hearing, many employees of the Administrative Court came to take photos with Lieutenant Ebru.”

Upon these final words of lawyer Güler, the Court President was seen to be surprised at first, and then he laughed.

“The Gods Demanded a Sacrifice”

Lawyer Güler continued:

“Yes, it gave a sense of opposition; but to those who do not accept the values of the Republic. And, there was no sense of opposition or anything like that that day. It was shown on TRT. This was an event that gave prestige to the TSK and increased the reputation of the TSK. However, due to a misdiagnosis called the ‘Cobra effect’ and the misleading of administrators, it reached this point. The reason; someone civilian managing the school does not know the Military Academy anthem. If what they did was a crime, a judicial investigation would have been opened against them; but there is no investigation opened. Is there intent? Did they want to knowingly and willingly damage the reputation of the TSK? Ebru Eroğlu is the top of her class. She does not have a single disciplinary penalty. Out of the 700 lieutenants who recited the Officer’s Oath that day, 5 were dismissed. If it is such a grave event, why 5 lieutenants? Because the gods demanded a sacrifice, and it was said, ‘Let’s fire 5 of them and close this matter.’ The head of the High Disciplinary Board panel was a 43-year veteran soldier. He voted against their dismissal. Who can know better than him whether this is indiscipline or not? We are here, unfortunately, defending something that does not exist.”

After the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) lawyers said, “After the incident, the TSK’s loyalty to Atatürk was questioned. We request that the case be rejected,” the Court President gave the floor to Lieutenant Ebru Eroğlu.

But with your permission, I will leave what Lieutenant Ebru said for last and report the second round of defenses.

Namık Öztürk, one of Ebru Eroğlu’s lawyers, summarized the behind-the-scenes of the process as follows:

“When the President, who left the ceremony, was with the families of the Azerbaijani martyrs, the Rector of the National Defense University, Erhan Afyoncu, who was with him, heard the chants of ‘We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal’ and told the officials, ‘Go take photos,’ had a video recording made, and then it was served to the press. Right or wrong; Afyoncu tells the President, ‘These swords are being drawn at you.’ It is an event he staged solely to ensure his rectorship continues. Is there an order given to the lieutenants for after the official ceremony, where is it? There is none. They just sacrificed 5 lieutenants.”

While the MSB lawyers stated that these allegations by lawyer Öztürk were not true, lawyer Mustafa Güler reacted to the MSB lawyers’ words from the first round, “After the incident, the TSK’s loyalty to Atatürk was questioned,” as follows:

“So what, does it become so when the lieutenants say this? What does the other side want to tell us? If they are saying, ‘When those words are said, opposition is created,’ then let the book be closed.”

Upon this, the MSB lawyers explained, “We meant to say that it is not those words, but that this indiscipline has opened the TSK to debate.”

Lieutenant Ebru: “Our Resentment Will Remain”

As for Lieutenant Ebru’s defense;

After thanking both her lawyers, who are retired soldiers, and the lieutenants for not leaving her alone, calling them “my comrades-in-arms,” she reminded the court that while the excuse of damaging the reputation of the TSK was put forward against them, the TSK remained silent about the insults directed at the lieutenants and their families, especially herself, and said, “Our resentment will remain.”

Then she said these words that moved everyone in the hall and gave them goosebumps:

“Everyone in the TSK, from the private to the general, has taken this oath. We may be removed from the TSK. They may seize our uniforms, our swords, our identities. However, the plaque I hung on the registry is still there. Our uniform is woven into our souls like a mosaic. Our sword is in its scabbard, waiting for the day it will be drawn against the enemies of the Turks. Even if our entry into the officers’ club is banned, the Turkish Nation has opened its heart to us, wanting to give us a plate of food at its table and a mattress to sleep on. This is what is important to us. The Turkish Nation always has the final word. As a member of the Turkish Nation, I say; live and exist, Harbiye, with your indestructible power...”

The Decision Date is an Interesting Coincidence

Yes, these were the things that happened in that historic hearing, which the Court President concluded with thanks.

But in the end, the Court unanimously rejected Lieutenant Ebru’s request to return to the TSK. Of course, for now, because there is still the appellate process.

Those who know, know; in administrative courts, the decision is given and announced at the earliest 1-1.5 months after the hearing.

However, interestingly, the decision for Lieutenant Ebru was given just 8 days after the hearing, on March 13. Perhaps as a gift (!), it was notified after the holiday ended.

March 13 has a very important feature; it is the date of Atatürk’s entry into the Military Academy, the day the cadets shout, “1283, is among us.”

In other words, the cancellation application of Lieutenant Ebru, who was dismissed from the TSK for saying “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal,” was rejected on the day Mustafa Kemal entered the Military Academy. What a coincidence!..

Müyesser YILDIZ

March 23, 2026