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Criminal complaint against dismissed lieutenant İzzet Talip Akarsu! Reason: 'Insulting the Turkish nation'

The Ministry of National Defense has filed a criminal complaint with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against İzzet Talip Akarsu, one of the lieutenants previously dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) over the “We are Mustafa Kemal’s soldiers” slogan, on the grounds that statements in his social media post targeted the TSK and the Ministry.

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The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) has filed a criminal complaint with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against İzzet Talip Akarsu, one of the five Atatürkist lieutenants it dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces, citing his social media post as the reason.

“WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING”

On October 30, 2025, Akarsu had shared the following statements on his X platform account:

"I would like to share with you an incident I saw on social media today that is difficult to accept. The 2nd Army Band accompanied the Republic Day celebrations held in Malatya. During the Republic march that took place in Malatya, the Army Band did not play any of the marches identified with the Republic.

Gentlemen, look, when we were at school, you deemed the İzmir March political and banned it because political parties were using it. (Even though you denied this). But at our graduation, you knew how to make us recite the 'Century of Turkey' march, which was not in the regulations. Our stance against whoever gave you this order is very clear and explicit; you can interfere as much as you want, you can wear a uniform as much as you want, you are no different from a wolf in sheep's clothing. Do not involve the army in politics any further."

ALLEGATION OF “INSULTING THE TURKISH NATION”

According to the report in Nefes, the MSB argued that the phrases “you are no different from a wolf in sheep's clothing” and “do not involve the army in politics any further” in the post were defamatory and targeted the institutions.

In the criminal complaint, it was alleged that these statements aimed to create a negative impression in the public eye regarding the MSB and the Turkish Armed Forces, and therefore constituted the crime of “inciting the public to hatred and hostility.”

The Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code on charges of “Insulting the Turkish Nation, the State of the Republic of Turkey, and the Institutions and Organs of the State.”

FIRST STATEMENT FROM AKARSU

Following the criminal complaint against him, Akarsu made a post on his social media account, quoting famous lines by Nâzım Hikmet:

"Yes, I am a traitor to the homeland, if you are patriots, if you are nationalists, then I am a traitor to the country, I am a traitor to the homeland. Write it in three columns with black, screaming letters: Nâzım Hikmet is still continuing his treason to the homeland."