An event was organized at MAKÜ for the Acceptance of the National Anthem on March 12 and the Commemoration of Mehmet Akif Ersoy.

Various events were organized by Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) within the scope of the Acceptance of the National Anthem and Commemoration Day of Mehmet Akif Ersoy. One of the programs was the conference held at the MAKÜ Avşar Han Cinema Hall.

The conference titled “The Concept Map of Our National Anthem, the Gift of Independence to the Future” began with a tour of the photo exhibition on the acceptance process of Mehmet Akif Ersoy and the National Anthem. Dr. Lecturer İbrahim Öztürkçü, Director of the MAKÜ Mehmet Akif Ersoy Application and Research Center, participated as a speaker in the program.

In the conference, Öztürkçü touched upon the historical, literary, and sociological background of the National Anthem, emphasizing that the anthem is not just a poem but a strong expression of the Turkish nation's struggle for independence and social memory. Öztürkçü stated that from 1911 to 1921, the Turkish nation faced continuous wars and harsh conditions, expressing that the National Anthem is a text reflecting the spirit of this challenging period.

Öztürkçü also addressed the process of the emergence of the National Anthem, stating that the idea of writing the anthem was brought to the agenda by important figures of the period, but the Minister of Education Hamdullah Suphi Bey played a significant role in accelerating the process. Öztürkçü reminded that the anthem was accepted on March 12, 1921, at the end of the process that started on November 7, 1920, and mentioned that Mehmet Akif did not accept the prize he won.

In his speech, Öztürkçü drew attention to the literary value of the National Anthem, stating that the text is a strong work both rhetorically and phonetically, and said, “The National Anthem is a text with high literary value not only in Turkey but also among world anthems.”

Öztürkçü also stated that the National Anthem reflects the founding values of the Turkish nation, expressing that concepts such as “army-nation understanding, independence, faith, hope, love of homeland, and martyrdom” stand out in the anthem. Öztürkçü emphasized that the anthem is not only a text describing the past but also a legacy of values left to future generations.

At the end of the program, MAKÜ Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Oğuz Gürsoy stated that March 12 is an important date for Turkey and thanked those who contributed to the organization of the event. Gürsoy expressed that knowing the conditions under which the National Anthem was written further strengthens the emotions felt while reading the anthem.

Inviting participants to the theatrical show named “Korkma” to be held in the evening, Gürsoy stated that the event would be held at the MAKÜ Conference and Exhibition Hall.

The program ended with the presentation of a plaque to Dr. Lecturer İbrahim Öztürkçü in memory of the day.