There is a special bond between Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Gaziantep, one rooted in the years of the National Struggle. Atatürk followed the people of Antep's epic resistance to occupation closely and praised it at every opportunity; and during his visit to Gaziantep on 26 January 1933, he was officially entered in the population registry of the city's Bey neighbourhood. This page traces, on the basis of historical sources, Atatürk's relationship with Gaziantep, his visit, what he said about the city, and his official registration there.
For the full story of Gaziantep's struggle against occupation, see our Defence of Antep page; and for the city's complete history, spanning thousands of years, see our History of Gaziantep page.
Atatürk's View of the Defence of Antep
During the years of the National Struggle, Atatürk followed with admiration the valiant resistance the people of Antep put up against the enemy, and he honoured their heroism on many occasions. That Antep, relying on its own means, withstood a siege lasting for months made the city one of the moral wellsprings of the campaign on the southern front. The conferral of the title "Gazi" upon the city likewise shows the respect with which this resistance was regarded by the Grand National Assembly in Ankara.
26 January 1933: Atatürk's Visit to Gaziantep
On the long tour of the country that he set out on in January 1933, Atatürk travelled from Adana on to Gaziantep and visited the city on 26 January 1933. He was received with great enthusiasm by the people. As a mark of the respect they felt for Antep's heroism, the governor and mayor of the day, together with the provincial assembly, proposed to grant Atatürk honorary citizenship of the city and to enter him in its population registry.
Official Registration in the Bey Neighbourhood
Atatürk was born in Salonica (Selânik) in 1881. During his visit on 26 January 1933, however, with his own consent he was officially entered in the population registry of the city's historic Bey neighbourhood. It is well known that many cities granted Atatürk only honorary citizenship; what sets Gaziantep apart is that this registration is official. For this reason Atatürk's official civil-registry record is held to this day in Gaziantep, in the Bey neighbourhood.
The document attesting to this official population registration is preserved today at the Atatürk Memorial Museum in Gaziantep. The city carries this bond from one generation to the next as a source of pride.
What Atatürk Said About Antep
The words Atatürk is reported to have spoken about the heroism of the people of Antep hold a special place in the city's memory:
"How could I not kiss the eyes of the people of Gaziantep? For just as they saved Antep, so too did they save Türkiye."— Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
"Antep is a beautiful city; its people are patriotic, brave and tireless in their work. This city deserves everything."— Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
"This single Turkish city, with no material aid from anywhere, saved itself by its own heroism and fully earned the title 'Gazi'. I regard the people of Gazi Antep, today as on that day, with deep respect."— Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
"Every city, every town and the smallest Turkish village that calls itself Turkish may take the people of Gaziantep as an example of heroism."— Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
These words reflect the respect Atatürk felt for the resistance of Antep and the emotional bond he formed with the city.
Sources
- For Atatürk's words on the Antep resistance and the city: Mustafa Can, "Antep'in İşgali ve Kurtuluşu" (The Occupation and Liberation of Antep), Millî Mücadele'nin Yerel Tarihi, Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA), doi:10.53478/TUBA.978-625-8352-66-5.ch05.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Atatürk come to Gaziantep?
On his tour of the country in 1933, Atatürk travelled from Adana on to Gaziantep and visited the city on 26 January 1933.
Was Atatürk born in Gaziantep? Why is he registered in the Gaziantep population registry?
No; Atatürk was born in Salonica (Selânik) in 1881. During his visit on 26 January 1933, with his own consent, he was officially entered in the population registry of Gaziantep's Bey neighbourhood. Unlike the honorary citizenship granted by many cities, Atatürk's official civil-registry record is kept in Gaziantep; this does not mean it is his birthplace.
What did Atatürk say about Antep?
The best-known words Atatürk is reported to have spoken about the heroism of the people of Antep are these: "How could I not kiss the eyes of the people of Gaziantep? For just as they saved Antep, so too did they save Türkiye."
How did Atatürk regard Antep's "Gazi" title?
Atatürk is reported to have said that Antep saved itself by its own heroism alone, with no material aid from anywhere, and that it had fully earned the title "Gazi".
Why is Atatürk's bond with Gaziantep special?
Both his repeated praise of the Defence of Antep and his official entry, of his own will, into the city's Bey neighbourhood population registry on 26 January 1933 set this bond apart from that of many other cities.