New scandal at the Military Academy: Singing the İzmir March has also been banned!

Turkey has been debating the oath taken with swords by graduating students at the Military Academy Graduation Ceremony for weeks. While the students have been referred to disciplinary action with a request for expulsion, new 'cases' continue to emerge.

Journalist Tolga Şardan stated that singing the İzmir March has been banned at the Military Academy, which is currently on the agenda due to the sword-oath crisis.

Şardan said, “Yes, you heard that right; singing the march, which thousands and tens of thousands sing in stadiums, at rallies, and almost everywhere, was banned at the Military Academy last year. According to the information I received, the reason for banning the students from singing the İzmir March is that it carries a “political message”.”

THE İZMİR MARCH HAS ALSO BEEN BANNED!

The ban on the İzmir March was conveyed to the Military Academy students via a verbal instruction. It was learned that after the students continued to sing the İzmir March, the school administration took the defense of a platoon commander who is a first lieutenant.

Tolga Şardan’s article in T24 is as follows:

“I have reached information that a series of remarkable events took place last year at the Military Academy, which is at the center of the debates with the sword-oath ceremony.

The development at the heart of the process is the banning of the İzmir March, which is sung by the students studying at the school!

Yes, you heard that right; singing the march, which thousands and tens of thousands sing in stadiums, at rallies, and almost everywhere, was banned at the Military Academy last year.

According to the information I received, the reason for banning the students from singing the İzmir March is that it carries a “political message”.

As I said, the singing of the march was banned by the school administration. The ban was given to the students and the responsible commanders not in writing, but verbally!

And by a high-ranking commander at that. I will not give his name for now. Because he has since been promoted and left the school.

So, did it end when the verbal ban instruction was given? Of course not; when the students continued to sing the İzmir March, the school administration took the defense of a platoon commander, a first lieutenant whose name I will also not mention.

To tell the truth, I have not yet been able to obtain reliable information on how the process concluded, that is, whether an investigation was opened or whether there was any need for disciplinary action. I will report it when I do.

However, let me state this; the ban on the İzmir March is still in effect.

Nowadays, students sing the Military Academy March, the Homeland March, and the marches of the military branches they belong to, such as the Artillery March, the Combat Engineering March, and the Infantry March, during school activities.

I would like to convey the news of the İzmir March ban at the Military Academy to Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler, who has been sharing his discomfort regarding the events involving the lieutenants with his close circle.”

News Source: 12punto