Commander of lieutenants dismissed: 'If I knew, I would do it again'

According to the claims of journalist and author Barış Terkoğlu, Major S.İ., the commander of the lieutenants who took an oath with the slogan "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal" at the Military Academy graduation ceremony on August 30 and were subsequently referred to disciplinary proceedings with a request for dismissal, has been removed from his post.

The message filled with resentment written by the dismissed commander while saying goodbye has reignited debates within the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

In his column titled "The De-Kubilayization of the Turkish Army," Barış Terkoğlu addressed the lieutenants' oath of allegiance and the events that followed this process.

Terkoğlu reminded that, in addition to the 5 lieutenants, the acting regimental commander, the company commander, and the battalion commander were also referred to disciplinary action with a request for dismissal. He further stated that Artillery School Battalion Commander Major S.İ. was removed from his post on the grounds that he supported the lieutenants and was assigned to a position where no appointment had been made.

'I AM A SOLDIER OF MUSTAFA KEMAL'

Barış Terkoğlu shared the farewell message Major S.İ. wrote while leaving WhatsApp groups. In the message, Major S.İ. included the following statements:

"As of now, I have been assigned to .... I assess and know that the reason is a situation regarding the lieutenants. There was an assessment by the command authority that I stood by the lieutenants and congratulated them.

I shout out from here: I was a soldier of Mustafa Kemal, his comrades-in-arms, and all the martyrs of the War of Independence before the lieutenants, and I am their soldier now. I did not know that following in the footsteps of those who founded this homeland and entrusted it to us would cause these things. If I knew, I would do it again. I will not deviate from my path for even a moment."

INVESTIGATION INTO LIEUTENANTS CONTINUES

It was stated that a disciplinary process with a request for dismissal has been initiated for 5 lieutenants within the scope of the investigation launched following the oath at the Military Academy graduation ceremony and the slogan "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal."

Reports were published in government-aligned media claiming that a National Intelligence Organization (MİT) report had been requested regarding the lieutenants. However, no information was provided to the public regarding the content of the report.

IS SECULARISM UNDER ATTACK IN THE TSK?

In his article regarding this process, Barış Terkoğlu used the expressions, "The stick of secularism is being shown to the TSK through the lieutenants. There is a mentality that is uncomfortable with the expression 'secularism' in the oath text. They want to tear the soul of the Turkish army from its body."