Deputy Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Nuri Aslan expressed his feelings in the Memorial Special Book, saying, "Protecting Istanbul, which they liberated from occupation with their blood and lives, and providing the best service to this magnificent city is our greatest responsibility. Serving Istanbul is our greatest honor."
Following an enemy occupation lasting 4 years, 10 months, and 23 days, Istanbul was liberated on October 6, 1923, by the Turkish army under the command of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The 102nd anniversary of Istanbul's Liberation was celebrated with a ceremony held at the Republic Monument in Taksim. The ceremony, attended by Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, General Bahtiyar Ersay, Commander of the 1st Army and the Istanbul Garrison, and Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan, began with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem. Gül, Bahtiyar, and Aslan then laid a wreath at the Republic Monument on behalf of their institutions. Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan read the message he had written in the Memorial Special Book.
"SERVING ISTANBUL IS OUR GREATEST HONOR"
In his message for the notebook, Nuri Aslan wrote, "I wholeheartedly celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the liberation of Istanbul, entrusted to us by Mehmed the Conqueror, from enemy occupation. Dear Istanbul remained under occupation for a full four years, 10 months, and 23 days until the 3rd Corps under the command of Şükrü Naili Pasha entered Istanbul on October 6, 1923. The occupation of Istanbul inflicted deep wounds on the heart of our nation. As a result of the honorable struggle for independence by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades, this great suffering our nation experienced came to an end. I commemorate Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, his comrades-in-arms, our heroic martyrs, and our veterans with mercy and gratitude. I bow respectfully before their cherished memories. It is our greatest responsibility to protect Istanbul, which they liberated from occupation with their blood and lives, and to provide the best service to this magnificent city. To Istanbul." "Serving is our greatest honor. May Allah not let this beautiful city and this noble nation experience such great pain again. Happy October 6th, the Liberation of Istanbul from Enemy Occupation."
Following the message, awards were presented to the students who won the citywide painting and poetry competition. The ceremony concluded with a recital by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mehter Band.
