Sanliurfa's role in Turkish War of Independence honored

SANLIURFA, Turkey

Sanliurfa province of southeast Turkey province was awarded the Medal of Independence on Monday, the 96th anniversary of its resistance against French forces during the Turkey’s fight for freedom.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu presented the medal at a ceremony in the provincial capital, where he earlier held the first Cabinet meeting outside Ankara in 13 years.

“We are once again yelling in the strongest voice on the Independence Day of Sanliurfa: We will protect our independence till the end,” Davutoglu said.

On April 11, 1920, local forces in the city of Urfa rose up against an occupying French force and forced them to retreat.

In recognition of the victory, one of the early engagements between Turkish forces and the Allied powers, Urfa was awarded the prefix Sanli, meaning “glorious”.

Two other southeastern provinces have been similarly rewarded for their role in the War of Independence -- Maras was renamed Kahramanmaras, or Heroic Maras, while the title Gazi, a term for a honored veteran warrior, was added to Antep’s name. The provinces were awarded the Medal of Independence in 1925 and 2008, respectively.

Referring to the current troubles in Turkey’s southeast, where PKK terrorists resumed their armed campaign last summer, Davutoglu said they were trying to “make provinces and districts bloody”.

He added: “They are not more powerful than the invader armies.”

Parliamentary Speaker Ismail Kahraman said the Grand National Assembly’s decision to honor Sanliurfa was due to its place at the heart of the war.

“Sanliurfa pioneered and encouraged our nationals with the patriotism, sacrifice, jihad spirit and independence it revealed in that period,” he said.