Director of Communications Prof. Fahrettin Altun evaluated the discussions of “Atatürk, Republic”, which was initiated deliberately by some circles following the reopening of Hagia Sophia as a mosque, to the newspaper AKŞAM.
Director of Communications Prof. Fahrettin Altun stated that the reopening of Hagia Sophia to worship as a mosque arouse great excitement in the Islamic world, yet the circles trying to prevent Turkey from progressing worked to launch fabricated discussions on ‘‘Atatürk and the Republic” against that event. Prof. Altun answered the written questions of TürkMedia Ankara Representative Melik Yiğitel as follows:
“We know those who are against this”
We witnessed a great excitement, joy, and pride for the reopening of the Hagia Sophia Mosque. After 86 years, Hagia Sophia has returned to its status set out in the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Khan's foundation charter and the place in the hearts of our people. However, we have seen those who are disturbed by this at home and abroad. Except for the marginal circles, a great majority of the society is quite pleased with this step. It could have been predicted that some sections would react against this. Because, these circles have not behaved differently in any event that the nation welcomed with excitement, happiness, and applauses. They position themselves against the nation and they do this openly without even the need to hide themselves. As our President stated, in recent years, Turkey carried out works and services equal to the total done throughout the history of the Republic; accomplished outstanding achievements; became an indispensable regional actor with its resolute stance in diplomacy. With which initiative under the leadership of our President, were they satisfied? Those who are troubled with Turkey’s exercise of its sovereign rights in all areas, unfortunately, are against us in the decision of the Hagia Sophia Mosque, as well. So, we got used to the constant discomfort situation of these circles. Ignoring those, we continue to progress steadily on our way.
“FETO also exploited the name of Atatürk”
Is there the organization behind the discussions following the Hagia Sophia decision?
Surely ...Taking shelter especially in the name of the founding leader of our country, Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, they stand against all these leaps of progress and development. Namely, this is a circle that has rendered exploiting the name of Atatürk a political tool. This is not the subject matter of only today. Is not it the same as with what FETO is doing? Even in the so-called coup declaration on July 15, wasn’t the name of Atatürk exploited?
“Our President expressed it openly”
President Erdoğan also expressed his reaction against the discussion in his last speech…
Yes. Mr. President expressed it pretty clearly. “I believe that there is no and will never be a point in discussing under which conditions Hagia Sophia, the most important memory of the conquest, was deprived of its mosque status of 500 years and turned into a museum. The important point is that this great temple has returned to its original function, and its mission set out in its foundation charter which is a legally binding document.” The reopening of Hagia Sophia as a mosque is the manifestation of our commitment to our present and future, not to the past. By departing from the ideological motives, efforts to confront our national and spiritual values are useless. Our nation has never given and will never give credit to these useless discussions. Our country has no time and energy to waste for meaningless and artificial controversies. We have still a long way to go. Our struggle for independence is a whole and has a continuous nature. The perception regarding the history and the past of each individual acting in line with this spirit draws a parallel with this.
Nobody should forget this; the political style of our President is a style that excludes radicalism. We are against all forms of radicalism. On the other hand, we find the discussions on the caliphate in the context of Hagia Sophia meaningless and rootless. There is no room for it in Turkey's politics.
What is the point in turning the matter into a discussion on Atatürk and the Republic?
Those who try to commence a regime debate following the decision of the Hagia Sophia Mosque are trying to provoke a part of the society through the precious memory of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. They aim to regain their lost privileges in the guise of "Republic" or "Atatürk". However, our foresighted nation sees that they are trying to mobilize social fault lines through initiatives violating the borders of reason and comprehension. They are in the pursuit of poisoning the social sphere, narrowing down the political sphere, and fueling the domestic and abroad tutelages through fabricated discussions.
“We are aware of the traps”
Do you think it will be effective?
We will never let this happen. Our heavenly homeland, entrustment of our august martyrs and veterans, has survived many troubles but it has continued on its way stronger than ever before. Under the leadership of our President our country, particularly in recent years, has left behind many archaic and unnecessary discussions that had been sapping our energy; has made progress and has earned the international respect it deserves. There have always been some circles home and abroad who want to prevent this progress. We have realized many years later that artificial conflicts created by social engineering initiatives were actually masterminded by collaborators home and abroad to sap our energy and prevent us from moving forward. We will never allow this.
Our nation and all the elements of our state working for a stronger Republic and a more independent Turkey in every field from defence to economics, from diplomacy to health and from tourism to refugee policies are now aware of these traps and the plots.
“Our nation is awake to the traps”
Could you explain this ‘awareness’ a little bit more?
The fact that Turkey is one of the few countries where people from different religions, cultures, and beliefs can live together in peace is a historical fact and is not a coincidence. What has been targeted for long years is this value. As I mentioned earlier, all sections of the society are more vigilant now. We will not be deceived anymore.
The Republic of Turkey has risen upon the shoulders of august martyrs and veterans who struggled for independence and has sustained its existence with the great efforts of each individual who contributed to the country and the work of each administrator and leader. This country belongs to us. Our greatest strength is our unity, cooperation, brotherhood, and sisterhood.
The Sumela Monastery, the second stage of which was opened yesterday after an extensive restoration, is a concrete example of the fact that Turkey preserves any kind of civilization heritage. Indeed, Fener Greek Patriarch Mr. Bartholomeos also called our President and expressed his gratitude for the restoration of the Sumela Monastery and Turkey’s support for the minority communities.
“We are always on the side of truth”
The West sets definitions for “the red apple” of Turkey; what is “the red apple” of Turkey?
I always try to express that the red apple of Turkey is to maintain the security and prosperity of our country, the stability of our region, and the peace in the world.
Our people-oriented security and foreign policy that we have implemented for years with determination will continue no matter what it costs and sooner or later all parties will take the direction Turkey sets. Turkey’s biggest strength is to be on the side of right and truth. Nobody will be able to intervene in our unity, peace, cooperation, history, and future.
“Muslims all around the world felt enthusiastic”
What is your comment on the excitement for reopening Hagia Sophia to worship?
Hagia Sophia awaited by many generations was finally reopened to worship as a mosque with the decisive stance of our President. The excitement of our nation for the Hagia Sophia Mosque is the best reflection of every effort and work from past to present. Our nation, perceiving the issue in the context of freedom of religion and belief, sovereignty and independence, expresses its respect to the history and a stance focusing on the future as well. This aroused emotions and thoughts that were impossible to describe in the hearts of each of us. Of course not only in Turkey but Muslims and friends of Muslims almost in every corner of the world also got excited and emotional.
“Istanbul is both an Islamic and a universal city”
What does the reopening of Hagia Sophia mean?
As a nation, our historical consciousness, our political claim, and our foresight have continued uninterrupted from past to present. It is this will that conquered Istanbul when the day came. It is this will that fought in Çanakkale or gathered in Erzurum and Amasya when the day came. It is this will that became the veteran at the first Assembly when the day came. It is this will that stopped the tanks with their hands on July 15 or went down for prostration at the Hagia Sophia Mosque when the day came. The love of independence of this nation has been embodied with prayers, adhan, and salawats in the Hagia Sophia Mosque. On that day, there were millions of people crying, laughing, calming, and finding peace in the crowd inside and outside the mosque. The Hagia Sophia decision has registered the fact that Istanbul is an Islamic city. It has also added strength to the universality and cosmopolitan character of Istanbul. The decision will lead Istanbul to become a more significant centre of attraction for the Islamic world.
