Second lieutenants crisis! Defense requested from students

Following the oath-taking crisis involving lieutenants at the Military Academy last year, new news has come from Eskişehir.

A disciplinary investigation was opened three months after the event against students who chanted the slogan "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal" and marched to the rectorate building during a march held at Eskişehir Anadolu University on March 21, 2025.

As a result of the investigation initiated in accordance with the Higher Education Law, the temporary or permanent expulsion of the students from the university has been brought to the agenda.

The defense request documents sent to the students by the university administration included the following accusations:

“Disrupting order, engaging in acts that hinder the freedom of learning and teaching or disrupt the functioning and peace of higher education institutions, such as occupation-like acts, and engaging in actions that obstruct service.”

While written defenses were requested from the students, it was learned that the process would be transferred to the disciplinary board and that severe sanctions, including expulsion, are on the table.

Last year, the act of lieutenants crossing their swords while chanting the slogan "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal" during the August 30 ceremony at the Military Academy caused a crisis, and some Kemalist lieutenants were expelled from the Turkish Armed Forces.