The 725th anniversary of the conquest of Bilecik was celebrated

In Bilecik, the 725th anniversary celebrations of the city’s conquest and the commemoration of the founders of the Ottoman Empire, Sheikh Edebali and Osman Gazi, were held. The event started with a procession from Cumhuriyet Square led by the Historical Janissary Band of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, accompanied by the Janissary Bands of Eskişehir Odunpazarı and Bursa Kılıçkalkan Team, and ended at the Sheikh Edebali Tomb Complex. The procession was attended by Bilecik Governor Şefik Aygöl, Member of Parliament Halil Eldemir, AK Party Bilecik Provincial Chairman Serkan Yıldırım, Bilecik Chief Public Prosecutor Burak Olgun, Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Colonel Ferdi Erbakıcı, institution directors, and citizens. The celebrations of the conquest at the Sheikh Edebali Tomb complex began with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem. Following the recitation of the Quran, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Refik Arıkan gave a conference on ‘The Conquest of Bilecik’. After the Janissary and sword shield demonstrations, the Turkish Flag and soil brought from Söğüt to the Sheikh Edebali Tomb by the Kayı Alp tribe were handed over to Bilecik Governor Şefik Aygöl. In his conference titled ‘The Conquest of Bilecik’, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Refik Arıkan stated, ‘The lands of Bilecik are a fertile geography where the greatest state we established in history came to life. Bilecik is Ottoman, Bilecik is Osman Gazi. It is a hopeful land where the Treaty of Sèvres was torn apart, and the Greeks were stopped. Bilecik is a republic. In this context, Bilecik is the city of establishment and liberation, and it is the city that deserves it the most. It is a unique nation that establishes a new state immediately as one state collapses. It announced the rebirth of these longings 727 years ago today and opened the door to an empire.’ Governor of Bilecik Şefik Aygöl stated, ‘Today, on the 725th anniversary of the conquest of Bilecik being Turkish soil and an Islamic city, I express my great pleasure to be with you. When we describe this city, we say that this city is the city of revival, establishment, and liberation. Our young people should know what we mean by establishment. When we say establishment, we mean the lands where a principality consisting of 400 tents in Söğüt was established in history, which later ruled a third of the world but led justice, service, and understanding contrary to today’s world order. Bilecik is such land, the land of establishment, the land where peace spread to the world. I also want to express to the youth that we say the city of liberation. Why do we say the city of liberation? In 1918, especially in the independence struggle, as you know, they destroyed all houses in Bilecik and its villages, leaving no stone upon stone. Our population decreased from 18 thousand to 4 thousand, and three-quarters of our population were killed. After a struggle where they did not destroy the mosque behind us, battles were fought in İnönü, Metris Hill, and Iskân Hill. This city is one of the cities that became the occasion for both the independence war and the establishment at the same time. Therefore, I would like to express that we are proud of this country, these citizens, this nation, and the people of Bilecik.’ The program ended with the recitation of the Conquest prayer and the Conquest call after the speeches.