Erdoğan approved: Atatürk's name erased in Eskişehir

While the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan National Garden was built on the site of the Eskişehir Atatürk Stadium, which was demolished in 2016, the name of the new stadium built in Eskişehir's Sazova neighborhood had been a subject of debate for a long time.

While a large segment of the public expected the stadium to be named "Atatürk", AKP Eskişehir MP Nebi Hatipoğlu announced on his social media account that the stadium's name had been registered as "Prof. Dr. Fethi Heper Stadium".

In his statement, Hatipoğlu noted that the process regarding the stadium's name was concluded with the approval of AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan:

"The process regarding the new name of the Eskişehir Stadium has been concluded with the approval of our President. The new name of our stadium has been crowned with the name of Prof. Dr. Fethi Heper, one of the valuable intellectuals raised by Eskişehir, a legendary footballer of Eskişehirspor and our National Team, and a dear fellow citizen who dedicated his entire life to our city with his academic identity. I wish this meaningful decision to be auspicious for our city, and we commemorate Prof. Dr. Fethi Heper with love and respect."

Following Hatipoğlu's announcement, various non-governmental organizations and political party representatives made harsh statements. Atatürkist Thought Association (ADD) Eskişehir Branch President Mehmet Avcı used the following expressions in his social media post:

"Mr. Nebi announced good news. The stadium's name has become Fethi Heper Stadium. What did he say himself? That it would be a name that encompasses everyone and that everyone would adopt. Now I ask: Didn't the name of the stadium, which was already Atatürk, encompass everyone? Look, Mr. Hatipoğlu, this is not like changing parties. If this city made you an MP, it was not for you to harm the values it cherishes. I know you more or less, return to your essence; the path you are on is not the right one. Turn back from this mistake as soon as possible. Leave our values like Atatürk, Eskişehirspor, Fethi Heper, etc., to us. Eskişehir Atatürk Stadium."

CHP Eskişehir MP İbrahim Arslan also reacted to the decision, saying, "You cannot erase Atatürk's name! Prof. Dr. Fethi Heper, the pride of Eskişehirspor and our city, is a value we all respect. However, you cannot ignore the memory and will of the people of Eskişehir through this respect! The AKP provincial head and MPs of Eskişehir, who until yesterday wanted to change the name of the stadium under the pretext of 'revenue' for #Eskişehirspor and targeted us for taking refuge in Atatürk, are now trying to legitimize this decision with 'approval'.

In the hearts and conscience of the people of Eskişehir, the name of that stadium is Atatürk! And it will remain so! And these people know very well what you are doing and why. Fethi Heper, who was strictly committed to Atatürk's principles and values throughout his life, is our legend. But Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is the reason for the existence of both our country and our nation. One does not act stubbornly against history, the common values of the nation, and Atatürk. Turn back from this mistake immediately!"

CHP Eskişehir MP Jale Nur Süllü stated that the will of the people was ignored, saying, "The demand of the people of Eskişehir, which has been ongoing for years, is clear: The name of our new stadium should be Atatürk Stadium! However, ignoring the will of our fellow citizens in Eskişehir, it has been announced that our stadium has been given the name of Prof. Dr. Fethi Heper, an important value of our city.

We certainly have infinite respect for the person of our legendary national footballer of Eskişehirspor, my dear brother Prof. Dr. Fethi Heper, and his place in the history of Eskişehirspor. But, using the name of an important value of our city with the effort to 'erase' the name of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the savior of our country, the founder of our Republic, and our Eternal and Only Leader, is disrespectful to both our Ata, Fethi Heper, and the people of Eskişehir.

I am sure that my brother Fethi, if he were alive, would never want or accept this. We emphasize once again that the right to determine the name of the stadium belongs only to the people of Eskişehir and that we will not give up on it being named Atatürk Stadium."

Odunpazarı Mayor Kazım Kurt also stated in his statement, "The Atatürk Stadium, which rose with pride in the heart of Eskişehir for years, was demolished, and a new stadium was built. For years it was called the 'New Atatürk Stadium', but not even a sign saying 'Eskişehir Atatürk Stadium' was hung. Today we learned that with the 'approval' of the President, the stadium will now bear the name Fethi Heper. Fethi Heper is a valuable name of this city and Eskişehirspor, he is the crown of our heads. We keep his name alive, and we certainly will. We know what loyalty is. We gave Professor Fethi's name to one of our sports facilities while he was still alive.

But the issue here is not to keep a name alive, but to erase a name. Loyalty to Fethi Heper cannot be shown by erasing the name of Atatürk! Waiting for years to not give the name of the founder of our Republic to a stadium, and finally making this name invisible by putting forward another valuable name, is an insincere and political choice. This government has no tolerance for the name Atatürk. They registered this with this decision. The name of that stadium is Eskişehir Atatürk Stadium."

CHP Eskişehir Provincial Chairman Talat Yalaz also expressed his reaction with these words:

"The name of the stadium is clear: Atatürk! We certainly have infinite respect for our legend, the professor of football, Fethi Heper. However, it is no one's place to try to erase or make people forget the name Atatürk, which is the symbol of this city! Loyalty to Fethi Heper is not shown by erasing Atatürk! This nation knows very well what is what. Do not try to look charming by giving Professor Fethi's name."