Construction worker detained for continuing to work while national anthem sung at school

A construction worker has been detained allegedly on the grounds that he continued on with his work as the pupils of a school across the construction area were singing the national anthem (“İstiklal Marşı”).

Wednesday September 15 2021 10:08 pm

Gençağa Karafazlı / DUVAR

The Turkish police have detained a 19-year-old construction worker allegedly on the grounds that he continued to work while the national anthem (“İstiklal Marşı”) was being sung by pupils of a school across the construction area.

The detention happened in the Black Sea province of Rize's Pazar district.

Yılmaz Şahin was working at a construction area across Mesut Yılmaz Elementary School when the police came to detain him.

Şahin's brother Mehmet Şahin cited his brother's working with a drilling machine as the reason behind the detention.

“When the students at Mesut Yılmaz Elementary Schools observed a minute's of silence ahead of the national anthem, we also similarly observed a minute's of silence. Aftewards, when the national anthem started to be sung, my brother switched on the drilling machine at the construction balcony and continued with his work,” said Mehmet Şahin.

“Upon a complaint, the police came and told us that we had committed a disrespect, which is why we would go to the police station,” Mehmet Şahin said, adding that they were waiting for the decision of the prosecutor's office.

Mehmet Şahin said that the detention was based on the allegations of “disrespecting” the national anthem and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic.

Mehmet Şahin further said that there was no “malicious intent” behind his brother's continuing to work.

Although not a legal requirement, it is still a very strong custom in Turkey to stand still during the national anthem.

At schools, every Monday and Friday, the national anthem is sung by students during a ceremony attended by the school staff.