The conference titled "From February 28 to 21st Century Turkey", organized by our University on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the February 28 Postmodern Coup attempt, took place on February 27, 2025, at the Atatürk Congress Center İsa Bey Hall, with Constitutional Lawyer, Attorney, and 20-21st Term Trabzon Deputy Şeref Malkoç as the guest speaker.
The event was attended by our University Rector Prof. Dr. Bülent Kent, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Cemal İyem, Rector's Advisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kemal Ramazan Haykıran, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sürmen, AK Party Aydın Provincial Chairman Mehmet Erdem, KOSGEB Aydın Provincial Director Sadullah Dülger, political party representatives, NGO representatives, academic and administrative staff, and students.
In his speech, Şeref Malkoç emphasized that the military intervention in Turkey on February 28, 1997, is defined as a dark stain on democracy, which suspended democratic processes, led to political instability, and caused human rights violations. Malkoç said:
"Thousands of people were deprived of their right to education and dismissed from their public duties during that period. We must always emphasize the importance of securing rights and freedoms under constitutional guarantees. We must instill this awareness in future generations to prevent new February 28 incidents."
He stressed that a strong democratic culture is essential to prevent such interventions and noted that the social and political changes after February 28 contributed to Turkey's stronger democracy in the 21st century. He stated:
"We will raise and educate future generations about rights and freedoms and how to protect their legal rights, so that incidents like February 28 and July 15 will not happen again."
Malkoç also mentioned the significance of Turkey’s role in mediating the Ukraine-Russia issue in Istanbul, highlighting Turkey’s growing international influence:
"Our country has taken on an important global role and can now have a say in international matters. This success is not only the result of state efforts but also the adaptability of our youth to a developing world."
He advised students to take advantage of their opportunities, emphasizing the importance of foreign language skills:
"Today, students have the opportunity to pursue education while following global developments. Knowing a foreign language is not just a skill but a necessity in today’s globalized world. Communicating with different cultures, accessing information quickly, and being competitive in the business world all require foreign language proficiency. This is a requirement not only for professional life but also for every aspect of life. Our youth must make the most of this opportunity to adapt to the world."
The conference concluded with a Q&A session, followed by Rector Prof. Dr. Bülent Kent presenting a gift to Şeref Malkoç in appreciation of his valuable contributions.
