Anıtkabir commander dismissed over soldier holding umbrella for trans diva Bülent Ersoy

Duvar English

The Turkish Defense Ministry has dismissed Colonel Hakan Osman Sert, the commander of Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, from duty.

The dismissal came after an investigation was launched into him over images of a soldier holding an umbrella over Bülent Ersoy during the transgender singer's visit to Anıtkabir earlier this week.

Ersoy on Jan. 12 visited Anıtkabir prior to her concert in the capital Ankara. Images showed a uniformed military officer accompanying Ersoy during her visit and holding an umbrella over her head to protect her from the rain.

Images drew reaction on social media, prompting the Defense Ministry to launch an investigation into the incident. The Anıtkabir commander and a team commander have been dismissed from their posts and reassigned to other positions as a result of the investigation, the Ministry announced on Jan. 14.