State officials gathered at Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, to mark April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day alongside the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s 104th anniversary. The ceremony, attended by prominent figures including Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, and MHP Deputy Speaker Celal Adan, paid tribute to Atatürk’s legacy. Children from all 81 provinces joined the officials, holding Turkish flags as they walked the Road of Lions to Atatürk’s mausoleum. A wreath-laying ceremony, a moment of silence, and the singing of the National Anthem marked the solemn occasion in the Turkish Capital of Ankara.
Expatriate Visits Türkiye, Expresses Deep Longing for Homeland
Musa Çelikkılıç, a Turkish expatriate living in Germany, returned to Türkiye for vacation and criticized the discrimination immigrant families face in Europe. Speaking at the border crossing on his way to his hometown Uşak, Çelikkılıç said, “Our children are treated like second-class citizens. Their future is limited from kindergarten. While their children are guided to be doctors and engineers, ours are kept in the background.”
Expressing his deep attachment to Türkiye, he added, “When we step here, our heart aches. Türkiye is the last bastion of the Islamic world. If we unite, we will issue a decree to the world.”
Çelikkılıç also voiced frustration over inflated prices targeting expatriates: “We are not seasonal customers. Our shopkeepers should be fair. We work 11 months for just one month of holiday.” He emphasized the importance of keeping cultural ties alive, saying, “We bring our children to Türkiye every year so they don’t forget their roots.”
Mehmet Basmacı
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