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 OttomanCoatOfArms.png (338KB, MIME type: image/png) The coat of arms of the Ottoman Empire, as used in the 19th century. [Source: Wikipedia. Click to view full size] Istanbul Conquest Day May 29th Celebrations on May 29th recall the conquest of Istanbul (then Byzantium) by the Ottomans from the Byzantines in 1453. Starting as a small warrior band raiding the Byzantine frontier, the Ottoman Turks built an empire from Morocco to Iran, from the deserts of Iraq and Arabia to the gates of Vienna. By 1452 the Ottomans controlled almost all of the former Byzantine lands except the great "Second Rome" of Constantinople. In 1453 Mehmet the Conqueror took the city and made it his capital, extinguishing the 1100-year-old Byzantine Empire forever. 5/20/06  In a symbolic gesture, tens of thousands of protesters gathered at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern, secular Turkey. [Click to view photo full-size] Turks protest over judge shooting Tens of thousands of Turks have turned funeral ceremonies for a judge shot by a suspected Islamist gunman, into a mass show of support for secularism. They waved Turkish flags and chanted for the country to remain secular on marches through the capital Ankara. A man calling himself "a soldier of Allah" shot dead Judge Mustafa Yucel Ozbilgin and wounded four others at a top administrative court on Wednesday. He was immediately arrested. At least three others have since been detained. The attack is believed to have been linked to the court's record of strictly upholding the ban on Muslim headscarves in universities and government offices. The government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which has Islamist roots, has been campaigning for the regulations to be relaxed or removed. This massacre attempt is directed against the secular republic. However, at the judge's funeral at Ankara's main mosque, many protesters chanted slogans calling for the government to resign, calling cabinet members a threat to the secular republic. Ministers who attended the service were booed Earlier, at least 15,000 protesters, from students to judges dressed in their robes, marched to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern, secular Turkey. "Turkey is secular and will remain secular," many chanted, in a procession broadcast live on national television. A wreath of red and white carnations, the colours of the Turkish flag, was laid at the mausoleum. Some protesters were tearful as they kissed the building's marble stones. 'Martyr' Thousands also went to pay their respects to Judge Ozbilgin, whose coffin was taken to the courthouse where the attack took place. Key members of Turkey's secular establishment - including the Turkish chief of staff and top judges - stood around the coffin, which was draped in the Turkish flag and covered in flowers. "Today we're sending a martyr to eternal life," Sumru Cortoglu, President of the Council of State, Turkey's chief administrative court, told the crowds. "The bullet that was fired into his brain was fired against the Turkish republic. But the life of people like him will help us keep the republic alive for ever." 
The gunman reportedly burst into a committee meeting of the Council of State, shouting "Allahu akbar!" (God is great) as he fired his weapon.The suspect has been identified as Aslan Alpaslan, 29. He was apparently carrying papers that identified him as a lawyer - although it is not known if these were genuine - and made it past security guards undetected. Mr Erdogan was quick to condemn the attack, and said the culprit would be severely punished. The semi-official news agency Anatolia says the four other judges injured in the attack are now in a stable condition. The secular President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who was applauded as he attended the funeral, warned that "no-one will be able to overthrow the [secular] regime". Story from BBC NEWS Published: 2006/05/18 16:53:13 GMT [Note: This would be 19 Mayis in Turkey - see below] © BBC MMVI The Military Coup of 1960 May 27th  The statesman and career military officer Ismet Inönü (1884-1973), became the principal lieutenant of Kemal Ataturk in the post-World War I struggle for Turkish independence. Inönü was the Turkish representative at the Lausanne Conference which overturned the wartime settlement and established the Turkish Republic in 1923. He was twice prime minister during Ataturk's presidency. As the second president (1938-50), Inönü kept Turkey neutral during World War II and prepared the country for democratic elections, which resulted in the removal of his Republican People's party from power (1950). He then led the opposition to the Democratic party's regime until its overthrow by a coup in 1960. Relatively neglected from 1923 to 1939, the army during the war had undergone a rapid expansion and a considerable modernization subsequently with the aid of US advisers. Many officers feared that the Democratic Peak (DP) threatened the principles of the secular, progressive Kemalist state. Some younger officers saw the army as the direct instrument of unity and reform. On May 3, 1960, the commander of the land forces, General Cemal Gursel, demanded political reforms and resigned when they were refused. On May 27 the army acted; an almost bloodless coup was carried out by officers and cadets from the Istanbul and Ankara War colleges. The leaders established a 38-man "National Unity Committee" with Gursel as chairman. The Democrat Party leaders were imprisoned. Most of the senior officers wanted to withdraw the army from politics as soon as possible and in November 1960 the decision was taken. The main work of the National Unity Committee was to destroy the DP and to prepare a new constitution. The DP was abolished and many Democrats were brought to trial on charges of corruption, unconstitutional rule and high treason. Three former ministers, including Menderes, were executed; 12 others, including Bayar, had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment. The new constitution was completed and approved by 61% of the votes at a referendum. The first elections were held in October 1961. The army then withdrew from direct political involvement. Inönü died in 1973 and was interred opposite Atatürk's mausoleum at Anitkabir in Ankara. 05/16/06 Atatürk Day (Atatürk'ü Anma) and Youth and Sports Day, May 19th  This day is Atatürk's Day, a day of remembrance of Kemal Atatürk. The Ottoman Empire was defeated in World War I along with its allies. Many parts of Anatolia, including the capital at the time, Istanbul, were occupied by the enemy. In May 1919 Greek troops had landed at Smyrna (Izmir) and occupied Samsun and surroundings under cover of French, British and American ships.Realizing that it was impossible to liberate Istanbul, occupied as it was by the naval forces of foreign countries, Mustafa Kemal Pasha decided to move on to Anatolia. The ship, the Bandirma, transported Ataturk and his entourage to Samsun, the best landing point on the Black Sea coast under the circumstances, and they landed there on 19 May 1919, after a five-day voyage. Turkey honors the arrival of Kemal Atatürk as the beginning of their War of Independence (1919-1922). Rousing ceremonies are held in Ankara, Samsun, Istanbul and other major cities throughout the country. According to tradition, Turkish athletes carry the Turkish flag ashore at the Samsun harbor. Memorial wreaths are laid in Anitkabir, the site of Ataturk's mausoleum. The Turkish national anthem is sung and speeches are made urging Turkish youth - "the children of Turkish Independence" - to respect democracy and peace. Thus, it is also a celebration of Youth and Sports Day (Gençlik ve Spor Bayram) throughout the country. 5/14/06  Music: Ankara Marşi (1.5Mb mp3)Composer: Halil Bedii Yönetken Recorded By: TRT Ankara Children’s Chorus Conducted By: F. Öz Pianist: R. Farkaş  Tulip Festival Istanbul - April and May Tulips played an interesting role in Turkish history and many varieties were cultivated in Turkey before they ever were introduced to Europe, where they became an instant success. The period between 1718-1730 was called the "Tulip Era" under the reign of sultan Ahmed III. Tulips became and important theme in the arts, folklore and daily life. Handmade embroidery, textiles, clothing, carpets, tiles, and miniatures had tulip designs or shapes. Large tulip gardens around the Golden Horn were very popular. The botanical name for tulips, Tulipa, is derived from the Turkish word tulbend or "turban," which the flower resembles. It's considered the King of Bulbs. The Tulip Era was brought to an end following the Patrona Halil revolt in 1730, ending with the de-throning of the Sultan.  Jereed (Javelin) Games Erzerum - April and May Jereed (Cirit, Cavgan or Gokboru in Turkish) is a traditional sport of Turks played for centuries from the times of Turkic States. Horses were sacred and indispensable for Turks; they were born, grew up, fought and died on the horse. They even drank Koumiss (kimiz) made of horse's milk.
The javelin was the main game of Turks during ceremonies and considered to be the oldest of Turkish equestrian sports. It was first introduced to Anatolia in 1071 by the Seljuk ruler Alparslan. Jereed was played as a war game by the Ottomans after the 16th century and became the biggest show game of the palace throughout the Ottoman Empire until the 19th century. Being a dangerous sport as well, it was banned by the sultan Mahmud II in 1826, but later became popular again and spread all over the country. Unfortunately in the last 20-25 years the game is limited only to the Eastern Anatolia, especially played during festivities or weddings in Erzurum, Erzincan, Bayburt, Kars and Sogut. The Jereed is also played in Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and other Asian countries where people of Turkish origin live. Other events in May
International Nyssa Culture and Arts Festival - Sultanhisar Ephesus International Festival of Culture and Tourism - Selcuk Yunus Emre Culture and Art Week - Eskisehir Aksu Culture and Art Festival - Giresun International Music and Folklore Festival - Silifke International Yatching Festival - Marmaris International Kilim Festival - Usak-Esme Kakava Festivities - Kirklareli International Asia-Europe Biennial - Ankara (also June) 05/10/06
 Flag of Ankara The flag dispute in Ankara
The governor of the Turkish capital city, Ankara, has announced (July 4, 1995) that he will confiscate all the flags with the new city arms on it if they are hoisted. The city council of Ankara recently changed the model of the city flag. This flag first showed a Hittite sun [now in use by Ankara University], now a mosque. The change of the flag was proposed by the Muslim fundamentalists in the city council. In Turkey the governor has to approve any change of the flag. A protest campaign against the new flag was launched by some inhabitants of Ankara. Source: NRC Handelsblad (Rotterdam), 5 July 1995, quoting AFP (Agence France Presse). - Jos Poels, 12 July1995
In the meantime, the Metropolitan Municipality of Ankara uses the flag with the mosque everywhere. The protest campaign continues but the Mayor does not want to change the emblem. The left parties claim that it is illegal to use the emblem but the Mayor has the power. I think the Municipality will continue using the current emblem unless a new Mayor from a different party wins the next elections. - Onur Özgün, 17 November 2001
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