Ahmet Hakan calls for 'compassion' for lieutenants: 'The punishment should not be too severe'

Hürriyet Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Hakan addressed the sword-oath incident at the Military Academy in his column today. 

Stating, "The punishment for the indiscipline they displayed should not be too severe," Hakan's relevant section is as follows:

"I read it in the news report written by Saygı Öztürk.

It turns out the lieutenants...

- Had repeatedly asked their commanders for permission to recite the oath.

- Received the answer 'it is not appropriate' from the commanders each time.

- Decided to recite the oath without permission despite the 'not appropriate' response.

- Planned and announced the unauthorized action.

- Finally, they drew their swords on the day of the ceremony and carried out the unauthorized action.

This chain of events might be met with understanding in any other school.

Except for the Military Academy.

Because in the military...

There is no such logic or approach as 'I ask for permission from the commander, if he doesn't give it, I do it anyway, and no one can do anything to me.'

Every school might tolerate this, but only the Military Academy cannot.

However, I still expect our authorities not to abandon compassion.

I recommend a well-intentioned approach:

Let the necessary investigations and examinations be carried out meticulously.

If these lieutenants do not have any other motivations, other connections, or other agendas...

The punishment for the indiscipline they displayed should not be too severe."