ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish Armed Forces announced the dismissal of five military academy graduates alongside three of their superior officers, caused by a pro-secular oath taken during their graduation ceremony, according to a statement released by the defense ministry on Friday.
The Ministry of National Defense initiated a disciplinary investigation following the appearance of a video in which approximately 400 graduates were seen raising their swords while chanting, “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal.” This phrase pays homage to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the architect of modern Turkey and a staunch secularist. The graduates not only celebrated their achievement but also repeated the Officer’s Oath, which emphasizes commitment to a secular and democratic Turkey, although this oath had been ceased in 2022.
Following the review by the Ministry’s High Disciplinary Board, the decision was made to uphold the dismissals, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for actions deemed undisciplined. However, the identities of those dismissed were not disclosed.
The scrutiny into the August 30 event commenced after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was present at the ceremony, pledged to take actions against those responsible for the oath taken by the graduates.
Under Erdogan’s leadership, Turkey has shifted towards a more religious policy framework, moving away from some of the secularist principles that Ataturk integrated into Turkish society. Historically, the military has considered itself a custodian of these secular values, which previously culminated in multiple coups—three recorded instances occurred between 1960 and 1980, alongside the ousting of a conservative government in 1997.
In a notable turn of events, the 2016 failed coup attempt against Erdogan’s administration led to extensive purges within the military, judiciary, and various state institutions. Erdogan’s administration attributed the coup attempt to followers of Fethullah Gulen, a cleric who passed away last year.
Additionally, this year’s graduation event marked a significant milestone, as it was the first occasion in Turkey’s military history where women distinguished themselves by graduating at the top of their classes in all three branches: the army, navy, and air force.
