Ahmet Hakan's unconventional take on the lieutenants: 'When I watched those images...'

The fact that newly graduated lieutenants from the Military Academy chanted slogans for the founder of the Republic of Turkey, the Great Leader Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, has become a hot topic on social media.

Circles close to the government have implied that the young lieutenants were 'coup plotters' based on the footage in question.

An unconventional statement on the matter came from Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Hakan, who is known for his proximity to the government.

Regarding the lieutenants, Hakan commented, “On the anniversary of the great victory when the country was liberated from enemy occupation, in whose army would you dream of serving? Unless you have a crazy desire to enlist in the Greek Army, of course, your dream place would be Mustafa Kemal's army.”

“When I watched those images, I didn't say, ‘These officer candidates are engaging in politics.’ Without being under any influence, I said: ‘They are taking a stance in line with the spirit of August 30th,’” continued Ahmet Hakan, adding, “Since we are going to read into intentions, let's at least make a well-intentioned reading.”

Here is the relevant section from Ahmet Hakan's column titled 'Whose soldier do you become on August 30th?':

"I watched it in the video: During the August 30th ceremonies, a group of officer candidates drew their swords and shouted, 'We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal.' These images are being debated right now. Naturally, within the framework of polarization again. Naturally, in an environment where no one listens to anyone else again. I know it won't be of any use, but I will dive into this debate anyway:

On the anniversary of the great victory when the country was liberated from enemy occupation...

In whose army would you dream of serving?

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Unless you have a crazy desire to enlist in the Greek Army...

Of course, your dream place would be Mustafa Kemal's army.

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Like every Turk who loves their country, you would say:

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If I were there that day.

- I wouldn't look left or right.

- I wouldn't hesitate at all.

- I wouldn't calculate anything.

I would immediately take my place in Mustafa Kemal's army.

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Viewed from this perspective...

On the anniversary of the great victory on August 30th...

The fact that officer candidates drew their swords and shouted 'We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal' has a symbolic meaning.

In that sense, there is nothing to be frowned upon, found strange, or debated.

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'We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal' has become a slogan of a political view. Therefore, it is said that it is inappropriate for officer candidates to chant a slogan of a political view.

There are those who say this too.

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Some are making an interpretation like this:

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'There have been slanders by FETÖ against military schools in the recent period. The officer candidates actually responded to those slanders with that slogan.'

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Which of these is true?

I don't know.

There is no way to know.

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But there is one thing I do know:

When I watched those images...

I didn't say, 'These officer candidates are engaging in politics.'

Without being under any influence, I said:

'They are taking a stance in line with the spirit of August 30th.'

*

Since we are going to read into intentions.

Let's at least make a well-intentioned reading.

Isn't that so?"