Erdogan Vows to Purge Military Graduates Over Pro-Secular Oath: ‘They Cannot Be Part of Our Military
-
Raven Ruma
- . September 9, 2024
- . Update: September 9, 2024 9:04 pm
Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s secularist traditions have sharply escalated conflicts with their more recent religious-conservative turn. The Turkish leader has promised to eradicate a group of military graduates who signed a pro-secular pledge during their graduation ceremony.
Renowned for his uncompromising posture against threats to his authority, the president referred to the cadets as “opportunists” and promised that those accountable would be kicked out of the army following extensive inquiry.
Speaking Saturday at a conference for Islamic schools in Kocaeli, Erdogan attacked the graduates, whose behavior he considered as an affront to his vision of a more religiously unified Turkey. “These few nasty people will be kicked from our military,” Erdogan added, noting that an investigation was already under way to pinpoint those engaged. His unambiguous message was ” Whoever they are, it is not possible for them to be part of our military.”
The Controversial Oath: A Challenge to Vision of Erdogan
The episode happened on August 30 at the Turkish Military Academy in Ankara during a graduation ceremony. Following conventional procedure, the official ceremony consisted in graduates repeating the military’s traditional oath, stressing Republic of Turkey defense. Still, what transpired was an unapproved deed that set up a political maelstrom.
About 400 graduates gathered separately on the grounds, lifting their swords and chanting, “We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal,” an obvious reference to the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who created the nation on austere secular ideals. Then the valedictorian of the graduating class, Ebru Eroglu, led the company in saying the Officer’s Oath, which commits one to protect “a secular, democratic Turkey.”
Officially taken off the academy’s graduation ceremonies in 2022, this oath—symbol of Turkey’s secular military traditions—had been deleted. Its return at this year’s ceremony, despite its cancellation, has been seen as a rebellious act by the graduates, directly confronting the conservative change Turkey’s armed services have experienced under Erdogan’s presidency.
For Erdogan, the pro-secular oath is a direct challenge to his larger vision of Turkey as a country where Islamic principles play ever more vital role in public life, not only a breach of convention. Erdogan has been relentless in undoing many of the secularist traditions instituted by Ataturk since becoming office, therefore promoting a more religiously dominated public sphere. Particularly important is this occurrence as the Turkish military, long regarded as the defender of Ataturk’s secular heritage, has been among the final strongholds of secularism in Turkey.
Historical Context: The Military Struggle in Turkey Between Conservatism and Secularism
Maintaining the secularism first brought by Ataturk in the early 20th century has always been mostly dependent on Turkey’s military. The military has positioned itself over the years as the defender of the secular constitution of the nation, a position that has resulted in earlier coups.
The military launched three major coups between 1960 and 1980 to overthrow governments it considered as deviating too far from secularist values. Once more intervening, this time in a “soft coup,” the military removed a conservative government judged incompatible with Turkey’s secular framework in 1997. But after the abortive attempt at a coup against Erdogan in 2016, the military’s relative power changed drastically. Following this, the Turkish president started an unheard-of military, court, and other public institution purge aimed at eliminating thousands of people accused of links to the coup plotters.
Since then, Erdogan has aimed to reduce the secularist influence of the military so better fitting his religious-conservative views. Therefore, the recent acts of the military grads reflect more than only a symbolic gesture of resistance. The pro-secular pledge is considered by many as a reminder of the military’s historical responsibility as defender of Turkey’s secularism, a function that many worry has been compromised under Erdogan’s leadership.
The episode has reopened the long-running discussion over secularism in Turkey, with some seeing the graduates’ acts as a vital reaffirmation of the military’s secular roots and others as a direct challenge to Erdogan’s power.
Divided Reactions: Government Crackdown and Public Outcry
The popular response to the pro-secular oath has been somewhat polarized. Certain pro-government analysts have been quite critical of the behavior of the military grads, implying that their disobedience could be taken as an attempt to discredit Erdogan’s leadership. These analysts have urged quick response as the behavior of the graduates shows a lack of discipline that should not be accepted in the military.
Conversely, many internet users have commended the graduates for defending secularism; some have even hailed the episode as proof that the Turkish military will stay secular independent of the political orientation of the current government. Political friends of Erdogan have also entered the fray. Head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, a fervent supporter of Erdogan, has demanded an instant probe into the episode. Bahceli’s demand of responsibility emphasizes the gravity the government is handling the issue.
The Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday that a formal inquiry had been started to ascertain who organized the pro-secular oath and what disciplinary action ought to be taken.
Historic Firsts Mostly Overshadowed by Conflict
Among the uproar, the graduation ceremony this year saw some historic firsts mostly eclipsed by the political aftermath. Women ranked highest among all three military branches—army, navy, and air force—for the first time in Turkish history. This mark represents the increasing participation of women in Turkey’s military, an organization historically controlled by men.
But the continuous discussion over secularism and Erdogan’s attempt to purge the military of individuals who disagree with his religious-conservative agenda has somewhat overshadowed the relevance of these successes.
What is Next: Action Promised by Erdogan
Erdogan’s strong words imply that the graduates engaged in the pro-secular oath are probably going to suffer dire repercussions as the probe into it carries on. The promise of the Turkish president to eradicate any military personnel who deviates from his vision for the nation suggests that this event could be exploited as a chance to strengthen his grip on the armed services.
For Erdogan, who has tried to change Turkey’s institutions in his image, the pro-secular actions of these military grads directly challenge his power and one he seems ready to suppress. As the inquiry progresses and disciplinary proceedings are taken, the next weeks probably will witness more developments. For many in Turkey, the debate over the pro-secular pledge tests not only military discipline but also the extent of secularism that can endure in a nation under rising influence of Erdogan’s religious-conservative policies.
As the president himself said, ” whoever they are, it is not possible for them to be part of our military.” It remains to be seen whether this marks the end of the military’s secularist traditions; nevertheless, Erdogan’s answer makes abundantly evident that any opposition to his vision for Turkey will not be accepted.
