Private Hasan of Iğdır: The 55-Year Vigil for Turkey's Honor
Yusuf İnan recalls the forgotten Ottoman soldier, Private Hasan, who guarded Al-Aqsa for 55 years, arguing his silent vigil is the true definition of a 'Terror-Free Turkey'.
Editor
Yusuf İnan
Journalist | Opinion Writer
Wise News Press – Izmir, Türkiye
Was Private Hasan of Iğdır Kurdish or Turkish?
Meetings held under the banner of "Terror-Free Turkey" in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) have passed their 12th session, yet no considerable progress has been made. Perhaps, instead of these numerous gatherings, a more effective approach would be to tell a single story that settles the collective memory of the nation.
The Reminder of a Forgotten Ottoman Soldier
The Ottoman Empire withdrew from Jerusalem on December 9, 1917, after 401 years, 3 months, and 6 days of rule. Over half a century later, Turkey learned of Private Hasan of Iğdır—still awaiting his guard duty at the Al-Aqsa Mosque gates—through an article by journalist Murat Bardakçı. The elderly soldier encountered by Bardakçı during his visit on May 21, 1972, had not abandoned his "post" for precisely 54 years, 5 months, and 12 days.
A Story Deserving a Commission
Instead of holding 12 meetings, it would have been more meaningful had TGNA Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş chosen to narrate the story of Private Hasan. If the commission established by the TGNA were to find and listen to Private Hasan's family, they might encounter a shared story of conscience that could unite the entire nation. Does the memory of this soldier—of the 20th Corps, 36th Battalion, 8th Company, 11th Heavy Machine Gun Team—not deserve a place on the walls of the Parliament?
The True Meaning of "Terror-Free Turkey"
The most powerful response to those who praise the leader of a terrorist organization that targets babies, children, women, doctors, and teachers, is the silent vigil of Private Hasan of Iğdır. Private Hasan remained at Al-Aqsa for 55 years; he did not leave his post. Far from resenting his state, he maintained a loyalty so profound he was ready to give his "duty complete" report. He did not point his weapon at his own people or other nations; he did not take the lives of innocents; he did not send greetings to his fiancée or family waiting in Iğdır. He simply reported to his commander, Senior Captain Musa Effendi.
Identity Debate vs. Shared Conscience
Private Hasan of Iğdır was likely Kurdish. Those who label the problem of terrorism as a "Kurdish problem" should deeply study Private Hasan's story.
Hasan's vigil carries a significance that transcends identity: it is the will to protect a city, a sanctuary, and a legacy. This is why he deserves a monument in the TGNA, at the entrance of the Presidential Complex, and in the squares of Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Turkey must tell the story of Private Hasan to the world.
The Language of the Vigil: Responsibility and Dignity
We ask, "What kind of spirit is this?"
The answer is simple: Responsibility. Hasan carried the message of "I am at my post" for 55 years like a living military memorandum to his commander, Senior Captain Musa Effendi. He became the name for protecting the honor, glory, and dignity of a nation.
The Lesson for Today
Regardless of the narratives pushed by the PKK, Öcalan, and the DEM Party circles, Private Hasan's vigil is the most simply written prose of action and ethics. If we are to achieve a goal of a "Terror-Free Turkey," we cannot build it with theoretical meetings, but by placing Private Hasan's struggle in textbooks, teaching it in schools, and etching it into the minds of the youth.
Final Word
Everyone must question themselves. We must strive to reclaim the spirit we have lost. Only then will we need neither artificial agendas nor empty slogans like "Terror-Free Turkey"...
Because a nation's true strength is hidden in that holy vigil at Al-Aqsa: the vigil of Private Hasan of Iğdır.
Yusuf İnan
Yusuf İnan is a journalist and writer.
He serves as Editor-in-Chief of WiseNewsPress.com, SehitlerOlmez.com, and YerelGundem.com.
He specializes in strategic and political analysis on Turkish and global affairs.
