Minister Güler: Lieutenants were not dismissed due to the 'We are Mustafa Kemal's soldiers' slogan
During budget negotiations, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler addressed criticisms regarding the dismissal of lieutenants who performed a sword ceremony at the Military Academy graduation on August 30, 2024, stating that they were not dismissed because of the 'We are Mustafa Kemal's soldiers' slogan.
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The 2026 budget for the Ministry of National Defense continues to be discussed at the Turkish Grand National Assembly's Planning and Budget Committee.
During the budget discussions, Minister Güler responded to criticisms from some CHP deputies regarding the students dismissed from the army following an investigation into the lieutenants who performed a sword ceremony at the Military Academy graduation on August 30, 2024.
Stating that the lieutenants' ties to the army were not severed because of the "We are Mustafa Kemal's soldiers" slogan or the sword ceremony, Güler said, "As soon as this ceremony ended, all the families entered the ceremony area to hug and kiss their children.
While in this situation, our top-ranking female lieutenant comes to the microphone and says, 'Families, please leave the ceremony area.' Does she have such a right?" he said.