Belgian Minister speaks out after that photo: 'I expressed my respect for Atatürk'

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken visited Anıtkabir during his official visit to Ankara. Walking along the Lion Road with his accompanying delegation, Francken reached the mausoleum of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, where he laid a wreath and then knelt to pay his respects. These moments resonated widely on social media and were shared thousands of times.

SHOWED RESPECT BY KNEELING

Francken's gesture of kneeling at Atatürk's mausoleum drew significant attention on social media. The Minister made a statement to explain the meaning of his action. Francken said, "In Ankara, I paid my respects to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of the modern Turkish nation. While transforming Turkey into a democratic and secular republic, Atatürk granted political rights to women, abolished the caliphate, and focused on education, development, and science."

Stating that the act of kneeling symbolized Atatürk's great reforms and the values he brought to the Turkish nation, Francken noted, "I expressed my deepest respect for this man and his political project by kneeling," highlighting that the policies pursued by Atatürk hold global significance.