President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan released a message on the occasion of March 12, The Adoption of the Turkish National Anthem and Mehmet Akif Ersoy Commemoration Day.
In his statement marking the 104th anniversary of the adoption of the Turkish National Anthem, President Erdoğan expressed the following:
"I celebrate the 104th anniversary of the adoption of the National Anthem, the epic of the Turkish nation’s will for independence, its perseverance, and resolute determination.
March 12, 1921, was not merely the day a national anthem was adopted; it was a defining moment symbolising the rebirth of a nation and its struggle for independence.
The late Mehmet Akif Ersoy, by conveying the emotions and aspirations of the Turkish people, has bestowed upon us an incomparable legacy. More than just a poet, the late Akif was a patriot aflame with the love of independence, who, even in the darkest days of our history, penned epics of our nation’s fight for freedom, fortifying the spirit of our people and serving as a beacon of hope.
As one of the founding texts of the Republic of Türkiye and one of the finest literary expressions of our civilisation, the Turkish National Anthem eloquently encapsulates the Turkish nation's love for its homeland, passion for independence, and national consciousness.
With this in mind, as in the past, we, Asım’s generation, will always uphold the values embodied in the Turkish National Anthem, preserving its spirit and keeping the ideals of the late Akif alive.
On the 104th anniversary of the adoption of our National Anthem, I commemorate with mercy and gratitude the late Mehmet Akif Ersoy, who so masterfully penned the finest expressions of the Turkish nation’s nobility, honour, and struggle for independence, as well as all our heroes who sacrificed their lives for the independence of our homeland, and I extend my heartfelt greetings to all of my citizens."