Critical development 3 days before the meeting: Lieutenants' written defenses revealed

Five lieutenants who recited the officer's oath, which was removed from the regulations, at the official graduation ceremony of the Military Academy on August 30, 2024, and were referred to the High Disciplinary Board (YDK), have submitted their written defenses. The critical meeting regarding the lieutenants will take place on January 16.

On August 30, after the National Defense University (MSÜ) Military Academy Diploma and Flag Handover Ceremony concluded, hundreds of graduating lieutenants gathered in the middle of the field. Following the traditional sword-crossing celebration, the lieutenants shouted, "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal," and recited the officer's oath, which was removed from the regulations this year. Following reactions from the People's Alliance, primarily President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, an investigation was launched into the lieutenants, and they were referred to the High Disciplinary Board with a request for dismissal.

According to the report by Barış Terkoğlu from Cumhuriyet, the lieutenants, who will make oral defenses at the board meeting on January 16, submitted their written defenses to the High Disciplinary Board through their lawyers last Saturday. In their defenses, the lieutenants responded to the accusation of "engaging in behavior that hinders service," which is cited as the reason for dismissal.

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Stating that they had informed their commanders that they wanted to recite the officer's oath one last time for their martyred friend İsmail Karaağaç, the lieutenants said that the commanders gave a negative response. The lieutenants stated that the officer's oath was not recited during the official ceremony, and explained that the oath was recited in an impromptu manner during the traditional sword-crossing celebration after the ceremony ended and the protocol had dispersed.

LIEUTENANT EBRU EROĞLU: IT WAS NOT A PLANNED ACTIVITY

Lieutenant Ebru Eroğlu, who led the recitation of the oath, explained the following in her written defense:

"I learned that I was the class valedictorian during the briefing conference for the ceremony rehearsals held on Monday, August 12, 2024. Two or three days later, I received the text I would read during the ceremony. When I first read the text, I saw that the officer's oath was not in the program. The rehearsals held in the first few days were conducted by reciting the military oath. Afterwards, both due to the request of my classmates and my own thoughts, I conveyed the proposal to recite the officer's oath during the ceremony to my immediate superiors without breaking the chain of command. In response to my proposal, my immediate superiors informed me that 'the Military Academy graduation ceremony regulation has been changed, and a clause stating that the military oath shall be recited by the class valedictorian has been added to the ceremony regulation, and therefore we cannot recite the officer's oath at the official ceremony.'"

When I submitted my proposal, I only submitted it for the official ceremony. There is no verbal or written order regarding the time after the official ceremony. In fact, this issue did not even come up in the slightest. On August 20, 2024, while the ceremony rehearsal was being conducted by our Battalion Commander, it was announced in front of the entire battalion via the sound system that the ceremony regulation had been changed and therefore we could not recite this oath during the ceremony again. We complied with this order and did not act in violation of this order in any way during the ceremony, nor did we even attempt to do so.

(…)

Afterwards, I stepped forward with the pride and excitement of that moment and began to recite the officer's oath. This was definitely not a planned activity. I had the idea of reciting the officer's oath in my mind, but I had no plan or thought regarding the place and time. It could have even been inside the battalion courtyard.

Seeing that my friends were already gathered and thinking that we would not be able to gather like this again, I wanted to recite the oath and I did. My friends accompanied me.

We had already entered the Military Academy by reciting the military oath at the Menteş Ceremony Area on September 27, 2019. While graduating from the school where Atatürk also graduated, I acted by thinking that it was a responsibility falling upon me as the class valedictorian to have the officer's oath recited one last time in unity and solidarity during the traditional sword-crossing. I definitely have no intention of indiscipline. When my Military Academy history is examined, I believe that I am a soldier worthy of the Harbiye. I definitely do not have, and cannot have, any intention in this act to bring the Turkish Armed Forces, to which I am deeply attached, into debate, to damage its reputation, or to adopt a divisive attitude."

LIEUTENANT İZZET TALİP AKARSU: NO REHEARSAL WAS HELD

Lieutenant İzzet Talip Akarsu used the following expressions in his defense:

"On the evening of August 29, 2024, friends gathered at the Celal Dora Area for the traditional Battalion party. At the end of this party, our friend who was the class salutatorian recited the officer's oath. The ceremony was also conducted in accordance with the order. Afterwards, our friend Ebru Eroğlu conveyed to me that she, as the class valedictorian, should recite the officer's oath. I stated that she could recite it tomorrow. Afterwards, I stated for the last time in the Battalion WhatsApp group that our proposals regarding the ceremony were not accepted by the command echelon, and I warned my friends not to make posts that could have political meanings or be misunderstood."

(…)

"Following the end of the ceremony, we waited behind the screen to meet with our families. During this time, our Company Commanders were with us. Acting Regiment Commander Colonel Alper was next to the screen. The screen was removed, and we, as lieutenants, entered the field following our commander. I met with my family. Later, I saw that my friends had gathered, and I moved towards that side.

Then I heard that there was a circle and they were standing in a crescent shape. I heard the words 'We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal' which developed spontaneously from within the circle. Later, class valedictorian Lieutenant Ebru Eroğlu recited the graduation oath. The oath was repeated by the group, which I estimate to be seven hundred people and which also included guest military personnel. At this moment, cameras arrived. One of the cameras belonged to the school. There was an argument between the cameramen and me. Then the name of our martyred classmate was repeated, and the group dispersed and went to their families. No rehearsal of this oath was held anywhere beforehand. If a rehearsal had been held within the Military Academy, where I served as a senior officer at various levels, or in any area, I would definitely have known about it.

If this activity had been rehearsed, it would not have been this disorganized. When a Harbiye student is going to hold a ceremony or activity, they do everything in the best way. The incident is an event that occurred during the traditional sword-crossing at the end of the ceremony. We obeyed the order given. No order had been given that the officer's oath would not be recited after the ceremony. We could never have the intention of damaging the reputation of the State or the TSK."

LIEUTENANT DENİZ DEMİRTAŞ: I NOTICED AND WENT

Lieutenant Deniz Demirtaş noted the following in his defense:

"After it was said that the protocol had left and the ceremony was over, I spent time and took photos with my family at the place I had decided on (under the Atatürk Poster). At this moment, noticing that my friends had gathered for the sword-crossing, I went as well. Since I was outside the circle, I could not hear the oath fully. After this activity ended, I gathered my belongings and went towards the inner battalion courtyard with my family to exit, and we exited."

LIEUTENANT BATUHAN GAZİ KILIÇ: WE WERE NOT TOLD "YOU WILL NOT RECITE AFTER THE CEREMONY"

Lieutenant Batuhan Gazi Kılıç said the following in his defense:

"Seeing that my friends had gathered, I joined the group. Here, I participated in the traditional sword-crossing ceremony. During this time, I repeated the words spoken and participated in the recitation of the oath. No one gave us an order saying you will not recite the officer's oath after the ceremony is over. I had witnessed such oaths and marches being recited during traditional sword-crossing. For this reason, I never thought that reciting the officer's oath would be an act of indiscipline, and I participated in the recited oath."

LIEUTENANT SERHAT GÜNDAR: IT WAS ALSO RECITED THE PREVIOUS DAY

Lieutenant Serhat Gündar's defense is as follows:

"On the night of August 29, 2024, the party, which is held every year and has become a tradition, was held at the Colonel Celal Dora Ceremony Area. (...) After the party, İzzet came to the ward and mentioned that Lieutenant Ebru was offended by class salutatorian Mevlüt Karabacak reciting the 'officer's oath' and that he had suggested to her, 'you can recite it the next day.' I found her sensitivity justified because Lieutenant Ebru was the class valedictorian.

After the official ceremony held on August 30, 2024, was completed and the protocol had dispersed, I saw that our classmates had gathered in the middle of the field for the traditional sword-crossing activity. However, during the ceremony, since I was in the 12th Company, which was the first company to leave the ceremony area after the official ceremony ended, I remained in the back rows and could not enter the ceremony area immediately. For this reason, I was only able to catch half of the traditional sword-crossing activity and the recitation of the officer's oath."