With gratitude to the Great Leader Atatürk: Life stopped in Turkey at 9:05

The founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was commemorated with ceremonies held across the country on the 87th anniversary of his passing.

LIFE STOPPED AT 09:05

In all 81 provinces, sirens sounded at 09:05, the time Atatürk passed away, and citizens stood in silence wherever they were.

OFFICIAL CEREMONY AT ANITKABIR

The state ceremony held at Anıtkabir was attended by a cortege led by AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which included Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, members of the Presidential Cabinet, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, IYI Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu, heads of high judicial bodies, the TSK command echelon, political party representatives, bureaucrats, and other state officials.

Erdoğan, who laid a wreath at the tomb of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, signed the Anıtkabir special memorial book following a moment of silence and the National Anthem.

Reading the lines he wrote, Erdoğan stated the following:

"Dear Atatürk, on the anniversary of your passing, we commemorate you, your comrades-in-arms, and our heroic martyrs with mercy. We embrace the Republic of Turkey with passion and embroider it with new works. We are working day and night for a stable and victorious Turkey. Turkey is advancing with confident steps on the path to becoming a global power."

News Source: 12punto