On the 103rd anniversary of its adoption, the National Anthem was performed with local musical instruments specific to seven regions of Türkiye and with local instrument belonging to Russia.

Moscow Yunus Emre Institute (YEI) organized a program fort he adoption the National Anthem and commemorate the Independence Poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy with the theme "The essence of the Turk, Akif's word".

In the program, the first two stanzas of the National Anthem composed were performed with musical instruments such as kemane, qanun, ney, tambur, oud, baglama, kopuz, violin, unique to seven cities from seven regions of Turkey, and local musical instruments belonging to Russia, bayan, balalaika and gusli.

The video-recorded work was created as a result of the efforts of 115 people, including academicians, musicians and students.

Akdeniz University from Antalya, Atatürk University from Erzurum, Adnan Menderes University from Aydın, Harran University from Şanlıurfa, Kastamonu University and Balıkesir University participated the project that Kubilay Kolukırık from Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Faculty of Fine Arts was the art coordinator. Some Russian artists from Russia also participated in the project.

Also in the program, a video of the Kastamonu University choir singing the third to the tenth verses of the National Anthem in the form of an oratorio, accompanied by music director Professor Sıtkı Akarsu, has been released.

The virtual tour, recorded by Bağcılar Municipality Mehmet Akif Ersoy Cultural Center, was narrated by Bağcılar Municipality Culture Director Halil İbrahim Şan.

“Türk milletinin inancının yenilmez azminin vicdanın ortak sesidir"

"It is the common voice of the conscience of the invincible determination of the Turkish nation's faith."

Speaking at the program held at Moscow YEI, Türkiye's Ambassador to Moscow, Tanju Bilgiç, stated that the National Anthem, which started with "Don't be afraid" during the most critical period the nation experienced, instilled hope and courage in the heroic army and the nation, and helped revive the spirit of national struggle. "This anthem is the common voice of conscience, the invincible determination of the Turkish nation's faith." Bilgiç said.

Stating that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said that the part he liked most in the National Anthem was the lines "It is the right, it is the freedom of my flag that lived freely; it is the right, it is the independence of my nation that worships God", Bilgiç reminded that Atatürk wanted the nation not to forget these lines.

Recalling his words about Mehmet Akif Ersoy's National Anthem, "May God never make this nation write a National Anthem again." Bilgiç used the following expressions: "Today, our brothers and sisters in Gaza are exposed to atrocities and inhumane, barbaric attacks. We want our Palestinian brothers to regain their freedom and state as soon as possible. What we witness today in Gaza reveals how important the epic struggle we fought a century ago was.”

"Our National Anthem is the symbol of our nation's struggle for independence and freedom, and the strongest expression of our feelings of love for the homeland, national unity and solidarity." YEI President Şeref Ateş said.

Also in the program, Adnan Menderes University Rector Professor Bülent Kent, Rector of Balıkesir University Professor Yücel Oğurlu, Kastamonu University Rector Professor Ahmet Hamdi Topal, Rector of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Professor Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil also participated online and gave speeches.

Moscow YEI Coordinator Mehmet Ülker, representatives of the embassy and Turkish institutions and organizations, as well as Russian and Turkish citizens attended the program.