A panel titled “Reading the National Anthem in Historical and Literary Context” was organized at Erzurum Technical University (ETU) on the occasion of the acceptance of the National Anthem on March 12 and the anniversary of Erzurum’s liberation from enemy occupation.

ETU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Naim Urkmez, Deans, academicians and many students attended the panel organized to discuss the acceptance of the National Anthem, one of the most important symbols of the Turkish Nation's struggle for independence and freedom, and the liberation of Erzurum from enemy occupation, which was a turning point in the struggle for independence in Eastern Anatolia.

The program, which began with a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem, continued with a video showing the writing of the National Anthem, historical elements of Erzurum and footage of Turkish soldiers (Mehmetcik) defending the homeland.

The panel, which began with a speech by Prof. Dr. Ugur Akbulut, Dean of the Faculty of Letters, at the Prof. Dr. Muammer Yaylalı Conference Hall, featured Prof. Dr. Murat Kacıroglu, Faculty of Letters, Department of Turkish Language and Literature, evaluating the National Anthem and Mehmet Akif Ersoy from a literary perspective, while Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Gokhan Polatoglu, History Department, spoke about the historical background during the period when the National Anthem was adopted. Prof. Dr. Murat Kucukugurlu, History Department, provided information to the audience about the events that took place during the liberation of Erzurum from enemy occupation.

The program, which was followed with interest, ended after the question and answer session.

Corporate Communications Directorate, 13.03.2025