Claim: Lieutenant who said 'I do not respect Atatürk' has returned to the TSK

A dispute that occurred during the Atatürk Commemoration ceremony held at the Tuzla Infantry School Command on November 10, 2023, resulted in the dismissal of seven lieutenants from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The tension, which began when Infantry Lieutenant A.A. did not wear an Atatürk photograph on his lapel during the ceremony, escalated quickly and the incident was referred to the Land Forces Command High Disciplinary Board. In its decision on January 18, 2024, the board ruled for the dismissal of a total of seven lieutenants from the military.

Among the dismissed lieutenants were A.A., who refused to wear the Atatürk photograph, and lieutenants M.F.Ş. and F.A., who supported him. The other four lieutenants were soldiers who had reacted against these three individuals.

'REINSTATED TO DUTY'

In the disciplinary board's justification for the decision, it was emphasized that the commitment of A.A. and the two lieutenants who stood by him to "Atatürk's Principles and the Republic was considered suspicious," and it was stated that "it is both an obligation and a duty for every soldier to show loyal commitment to Atatürk's Principles and Revolutions and the Republic."

However, the dismissal decision regarding Lieutenant A.A., who was at the center of the controversy, was unanimously overturned by the Istanbul 4th Administrative Court. With the court's decision, the way was paved for A.A. to return to the TSK.

According to information reported by Gamze Çınlar from Veryansın TV, the dismissal decision regarding M.F.Ş., one of the lieutenants who supported A.A., was also overturned by the court. It was reported that M.F.Ş. recently resumed his duties and joined the Infantry School.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

The dismissal decision prepared for M.F.Ş. included statements that the lieutenant had said during the ceremony, "I can respect the Atatürk before 1923, but I do not respect the Atatürk after 1923. I do not accept some of the things he did." When asked what he did not accept, it was reported that he said, "He did a great job with the War of Independence, but after 1923, he corrupted the religion and changed the language of the religion, which was Arabic, to Turkish. It was wrong to write the translation of the Quran in Turkish."

It was stated that following these words, the atmosphere became tense and a scuffle broke out between lieutenants S.Ç. and A.A.

News Source: 12punto