April 23 Children’s Day marked in Turkey amid pandemic

* Photos: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Today is April 23, the National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Turkey. This year, the celebrations have once again started amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic measures and a countrywide curfew.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu wished children a happy Children's Day via videoconference. While he met several children both from Turkey and abroad, the video of the meeting has been shared on his social media accounts.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has also changed the logo on its social media accounts with the logo drawn by an 11-year-old.

On the other side, Google has prepared a doodle to mark April 23. Opening the page, one sees the Google logo painted with crayons, with flowers and a flag of Turkey attached. When the users click on the logo, they can access more detailed information about the day.

101 days ago today, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey convened for the first time. Nine years later, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and the first President of the Republic, declared the day as the Children's day, believing that children are the future of Turkey. The day is officially called "the National Sovereignty and Children's Day".

Education Minister at Atatürk's Tomb

Minister of National Education Ziya Selçuk visited the Monumental Tomb of Atatürk (Anıtkabir) in the capital city of Ankara.

Laying a wreath on the mausoleum, Minister Selçuk kept a moment of silence and wrote in the official memorial book: "The children of this nation will not lag behind in any field of education when compared to other children in the world, they will keep on earning success in science and technology and looking at the skies, namely their future, with hope."

A limited number of people attended the ceremony led by Minister of Education Selçuk due to COVID-19 measures. Before the visit, the Monumental Tomb was disinfected and the guards were changed.

First ceremony at the Parliament

On the occasion of April 23 Children's Day, Parliamentary Speaker Mustafa Şentop laid a wreath on the Atatürk Monument at the Parliament.

Deputy Parliamentary Speakers Süreyya Sadi Bilgiç, Haydar Akar and Nimetullah Erdoğmuş, ruling AKP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chairs Muhammet Emin Akbaşoğlu and Cahit Özkan, main opposition CHP Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Özgür Özel and MPs as well as other Parliamentary bureaucrats and personnel attended the ceremony here.

Following this ceremony, Parliamentary Speaker Mustafa Şentop attended the ceremony at the Atatürk's Monumental Tomb.

CHP, İYİ Party leaders in the ceremony

The ceremony at the Atatürk's Tomb was also attended by Vice President Fuat Oktay, CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener, the members of the Presidential Cabinet and MPs.

İYİ Party Chair Akşener has also released a written statement on the occasion of Children's Day, saying, "I embrace all our children. I hope that they will live in a Turkey with happiness and welfare."

Union of Bar Associations marks the day

The Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) has released a written statement on the occasion of April 23, underlining "the unique place of Turkey's Parliament in the world history of parliaments."

In other cities, the celebrations and commemorations were held at the squares or around the statues of Atatürk. (HA/SD)