Dismissed from the TSK: Lieutenant Ebru Eroğlu's lawyer claims 'Erhan Afyoncu targeted the lieutenants'
In the case regarding Lieutenant Ebru Eroğlu's dismissal from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), her lawyer Namık Öztürk stated that after the slogan "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal" was chanted, Erhan Afyoncu instructed officials to "Go and take photos." Öztürk alleged that Afyoncu presented the footage to AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying, "These swords are being drawn against you."
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The Ankara 4th Administrative Court has rejected the reinstatement lawsuit filed by Lieutenant Ebru Eroğlu, who was dismissed from the TSK on the grounds that she led the oath of officers and chanted the ‘We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal’ slogan following the Military Academy Graduation Ceremony.
12punto columnist Müyesser Yıldız shared striking information in her column, where she reported on the events that took place during the hearing held on March 5.
Lieutenant Ebru Eroğlu's lawyer, Namık Öztürk, made notable allegations regarding the events at the ceremony during his defense in court. Öztürk noted that some footage was deliberately recorded and leaked to the press.
"GO AND TAKE PHOTOS" INSTRUCTION AFTER THE SLOGAN
Öztürk alleged that Erhan Afyoncu, who was accompanying AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, instructed officials to "Go and take photos" after hearing the "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal" slogans. He stated that a video recording was made in this context and that the footage in question was later leaked to the press.
AFYONCU TO ERDOĞAN: "THESE SWORDS ARE BEING DRAWN AGAINST YOU"
Öztürk alleged that Afyoncu presented the footage in question to President Erdoğan with the words, "These swords are being drawn against you."
The relevant part of Yıldız's article is as follows:
“Ebru Eroğlu's lawyers, Namık Öztürk, summarized the behind-the-scenes of the process and noted the following:
‘When the President, who had left the ceremony, was with the families of the martyrs from Azerbaijan, National Defense University Rector Erhan Afyoncu, upon hearing the chants of ‘We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal,’ told the officials, ‘Go and take photos,’ had a video recorded, and then it was leaked to the press. True or false; Afyoncu tells the President, ‘These swords are being drawn against you.’ It is an event he staged solely to ensure his rectorship continues. Is there an order given to the lieutenants for after the official ceremony, where is it? There is none. They just sacrificed 5 lieutenants.’
While the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) lawyers stated that these allegations by Lawyer Öztürk were not true, Lawyer Mustafa Güler reacted to the MSB lawyers' earlier remarks in the first round, ‘The TSK's loyalty to Atatürk was questioned after the incident,’ as follows:
‘What do you mean, does it become so when the lieutenants say this? What is the other side trying to tell us? If they are saying, ‘When those words are spoken, opposition is created,’ then let the matter be closed.’
Upon this, the MSB lawyers explained, ‘We did not mean those words, we meant to say that this lack of discipline opened the TSK up to debate.’”