Scandalous scenes at an event in Karaman: National Anthem recited in Arabic! Protocol remained silent

At the Cahit Zarifoğlu Imam Hatip Secondary School in Karaman, the National Anthem was performed in Arabic by students as part of the “March 12th Adoption of the National Anthem and Commemoration of Mehmet Akif Ersoy” event.

Karaman Governor Hayrettin Çiçek, Mayor Savaş Kalaycı, Chief Public Prosecutor Tuba Ersöz Ünver, Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Gavgalı, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Colonel Osman Saygılı, Provincial Police Chief Mehmet Turhan, Provincial Director of National Education Mehmet Çalışkan, and other public officials who attended the ceremony did not react to what transpired.

Following the event, footage of the program was shared with the public on the website of the Karaman Provincial Directorate of National Education. The silence of the protocol members sparked reactions, particularly among parents and social media users. Many people, arguing that “the Turkish National Anthem should be recited in its own language,” questioned the purpose of the practice.

SHARP REACTION FROM EDUCATORS AND THE PUBLIC

A harsh statement regarding the controversy also came from Eğitim İş Union President Kadem Özbay. Reacting to the situation, Özbay stated, “This scene, which took place at a Republic of Turkey ceremony under the eyes of the governor and the provincial director of national education, cannot be dismissed as an isolated incident.” In his assessment, Özbay used the following expressions:

“In which country is the national anthem recited in another official language? The National Anthem is the voice of the country’s struggle for independence and a symbol of its sovereignty. An Arabic anthem is not a simple choice. This is also an indicator of the approach toward the Republic’s common symbols and language. The language of our anthem is Turkish.”

News Source: 12punto