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Ankara (Metropolitan Municipality, Turkey)

by Onur Özgün

The flag dispute in Ankara
University of Ankara

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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 Hettite sun, 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 Municipalty 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

University of Ankara

by Onur Özgün