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The fundamentals of the Turkish Flag were laid down by Turkish Flag Law No. 2994 of May 29, 1936. Turkish Flag Regulation No. 2/7175 dated July 28, 1937, and Supplementary Regulation No. 11604/2 dated July 29, 1939, were enacted to describe how the flag law would be implemented. The Turkish Flag Law No. 2893 dated September 22, 1983, and Published in the Official Gazette on September 24, 1983, was promulgated six months after its publication. According to Article 9 of Law No. 2893, a statute including the fundamentals of the implementation was also published.

BY M. AKIF ERSOY

FEAR NOT AND BE DISMAYED, THIS

CRIMSON FLAG WILL NEVER FADE

IT IS THE LAST HEART THAT IS BURNING FOR

MY NATION.

AND WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT IT WILL NEVER FAIL

IT IS MY NATIONS STAR, SHINING FOREVER,

IT IS MY NATIONS STAR AND IT IS MINE

FROWN NOT, FAIR CRESENT, FOR I AM READY TO

DIE FOR YOU

SMILE NOW UPON MY HEROIC NATION. LEAVE

THIS ANGER

LEST THE BLOOD SHED FOR THEE BE UNBLESSED.

FREEDOM IS MY NATIONS RIGHT,

FREEDOM FOR US WHO WORSHIP GOD AND

SEEK WHAT IS RIGHT...

(TRANSLATER: T.M. CARTLEDGE)

Mehmet Âkif Ersoy (1873, Istanbul - 27 December 1936, Istanbul) was a Turkish poet, author, academic, member of parliament, and the poet of the Turkish National Anthem.

National Anthem  The "Istiklal Marsi" (The Independence March) was officially adopted as Turkey's National Anthem on March 12, 1921. 724 poems were submitted to a competition organized to find and select the most suitable original composition for this March, and a poem written by the poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy was adopted unanimously by the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Twenty-four composers participated in another competition arranged for the selection of a musical composition for the National Anthem. The Council, which was only able to convene in 1924, due to the War of Independence adopted the music composed by Ali Rifat Cagatay. The words of the National Anthem were sung to this music for eight years. Thereafter, the music of the National Anthem was changed to an arrangement written by Zeki Ungor, conductor of the Presidental Symphonic Orchestra, and the words of the National Anthem have been sung to this musical accompaniment ever since.

National Anthem

Lyrics by : M.Akif Ersoy

Music composed by : Zeki Ungor

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