Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding and a philanthropic businessman, issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey.

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding, included the following statements in his message;

The Republic of Turkey is our greatest legacy, established by our beloved nation under the leadership of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms, as a result of the War of Independence waged with unwavering faith, fueled by love for the homeland and a yearning for sovereignty and independence. During this process, our noble nation, young and old, men and women, waged a glorious struggle. As Mehmet Akif so eloquently put it, our great nation, speaking with one voice, declared, “I wonder which madman would dare put chains on me,” and knew how to protect and liberate its homeland.

Today is the day when our esteemed nation succeeded in creating a modern and advanced Republic from its own ashes amidst scarcity and impossibility. The proclamation of the Republic, a symbol of our nation’s rebirth and an expression of its regaining its distinguished and respected place on the stage of history by establishing a modern state, opened new horizons for our country.

The Republic, which was established by the Great Leader Atatürk on May 19, 1919, when he landed in Samsun and launched the National Struggle, and which he declared on October 29, 1923, stating that “The administration most suitable to the character and customs of the Turkish Nation is the Republic,” is the greatest legacy left to us, crowning our independence with a total struggle. Our most important duty is to work with the same determination, resolve, and spirit to keep this legacy alive, to elevate Türkiye above contemporary civilizations, and to further strengthen it. The Republic, which is also the guarantee of a bright future, an honorable life, and a modern state, is a modernization initiative that places the will of the nation at its center and uses the conditions and opportunities brought about by the age for the benefit of the nation. Our country, which has succeeded in crowning the values ​​of our Republic with democracy, has become a shining star of our region and the world with its peace-based foreign policy, its deep-rooted historical past, its rich culture, and its geopolitical position.

The most important thing we need to become stronger as a nation and overcome the obstacles we face is unity and solidarity. Just as we owe our success in the War of Independence to our unity and solidarity, today we again need unity and solidarity to overcome the obstacles that may arise.

With these feelings and thoughts, I sincerely congratulate all our citizens on Republic Day, and I commemorate with mercy and gratitude our dear martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the indivisible integrity of our country and the unity and solidarity of our nation in the War of Independence, on July 15th, and in the fight against terrorism, especially the founder of our Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms, and I remember our heroic veterans with respect and gratitude.

Abdullah Yiğit – Istanbul

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding and a philanthropic businessman, issued a message on the occasion of October 19th, Village Headmen’s Day.

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding, included the following statements in his message;

The institution of the village headman, one of the cornerstones of our democracy, has maintained its role as the closest point of contact between the state and its citizens for centuries.

Our village and neighborhood heads are the strongest representatives of the people’s will, best identifying the demands, expectations, and needs of the public in their respective neighborhoods and villages, and contributing to the effective delivery of public services at the local level.

Serving as a bridge between our citizens and the state, our village heads are an indispensable part of our local governance system, thanks to their dedication, sincerity, and sense of responsibility in carrying out their duties.

The diligent efforts undertaken by our villages and neighborhoods to develop their communities and improve the quality of life for our people constitute the strength of our public administration on the ground.

With these feelings and thoughts, I celebrate the October 19th Village Headmen’s Day of all our village headmen who carry out their duties with great dedication; I pray for mercy for our village headmen who have passed away, and I wish health, happiness and success to our village headmen who are currently in office.

Abdullah Yiğit – Istanbul

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding and a philanthropic businessman, issued a message on the occasion of October 19th, Village Headmen’s Day.

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding, included the following statements in his message;

The institution of the village headman, one of the cornerstones of our democracy, has maintained its role as the closest point of contact between the state and its citizens for centuries.

Our village and neighborhood heads are the strongest representatives of the people’s will, best identifying the demands, expectations, and needs of the public in their respective neighborhoods and villages, and contributing to the effective delivery of public services at the local level.

Serving as a bridge between our citizens and the state, our village heads are an indispensable part of our local governance system, thanks to their dedication, sincerity, and sense of responsibility in carrying out their duties.

The diligent efforts undertaken by our villages and neighborhoods to develop their communities and improve the quality of life for our people constitute the strength of our public administration on the ground.

With these feelings and thoughts, I celebrate the October 19th Village Headmen’s Day of all our village headmen who carry out their duties with great dedication; I pray for mercy for our village headmen who have passed away, and I wish health, happiness and success to our village headmen who are currently in office.

Abdullah Yiğit – Istanbul

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding, included the following statements in his message;

“In order to keep the cherished memories of our veterans, who are a source of pride and honor for us, alive forever, the date of September 19, 1921, when the rank of Marshal and the title of Veteran were bestowed upon Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, has been accepted and declared as ‘Veterans Day’.”

Throughout its history, the glorious Turkish nation has fought and achieved unparalleled victories for its homeland, flag, independence, and the values ​​it holds sacred. In this cause, the Turkish soldier, always willingly sacrificing his life, has attained either the rank of martyr or veteran.

This sacrifice and faith are at the heart of the victory that brought the War of Independence to a successful conclusion.

Today, in our resolute struggle against separatist terrorism that threatens our unity and integrity, we owe a great debt to our martyrs and veterans who displayed unparalleled heroism.

I celebrate “Veterans Day” for all our heroic veterans who, without hesitation, sacrificed their lives to protect the indivisible integrity and eternal existence of our homeland and to ensure the unity, solidarity, peace, and tranquility of our nation.

Our martyrs and veterans will live forever in our hearts as symbols of our unity and integrity, our love for our homeland, and our freedom and independence.

“On this significant day, I commemorate all our martyrs, especially Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and our veterans who have passed away, with mercy and gratitude, and I offer my gratitude, love, and respect to our veterans and those disabled, who are symbols of our independence and indivisible unity,” he said.

Abdullah Yiğit – Istanbul

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding and a philanthropic businessman, issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of the start of the 2026-2027 academic year.

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding, included the following statements in his message;

We are all experiencing the excitement and joy of our children, who are the guarantee of our future, starting a new academic year.

Ensuring our children have access to quality education, develop their talents, and grow into confident, well-rounded individuals committed to national and spiritual values ​​is one of our top priorities.

The greatest credit in this process belongs to our valuable teachers who dedicate themselves to the future of our children. I thank all our teachers who perform their duties selflessly and wish them success in the new academic year.

2026 – 2027 Academic Year in Formal Education

We will continue to work hand in hand with all stakeholders in our education community to ensure that our dear students receive a quality education and can discover their talents and develop themselves to the fullest. Preparing our students for the future in safe and modern learning environments will remain one of our most important priorities.

I pray that the academic year, which will begin on Monday, September 14, 2026, will be productive and peaceful for the entire education community, and I wish success to our children, who are the guarantee of our future.

Abdullah Yiğit – Istanbul

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding and a philanthropic businessman, issued a congratulatory message for the 2026-2027 Judicial Year, wishing success to judicial employees.

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding, included the following statements in his message;

Throughout history, our nation, which has built states with the aim of establishing rights and justice, founded the Republic of Türkiye with the understanding that justice is the most natural right of all its citizens.

Our justice system, which never tires of upholding the rights of all our citizens, fulfills an extremely important duty for the peace and prosperity of our nation with its dedicated members.

Our judicial officers, guided by the profound statement of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, “Independence, future, freedom—everything exists with justice,” are the guarantors of the principle of the rule of law.

We firmly believe that the scales of justice will never falter, and that our lawyers, who have emerged from the heart of our nation and possess pure consciences, will ensure the unity, harmony, peace, and brotherhood of our beloved nation forever.

On this occasion, I congratulate our independent judicial officers, lawyers, and all judicial personnel who uncompromisingly fulfill their duties for the sake of justice and the rule of law, on the new judicial year.

I commemorate with respect all our judicial officers and justice system employees who lost their lives in the line of duty.

I hope that our new judicial year will be beneficial to our country, our citizens, our judiciary, and the legal community.

Abdullah Yiğit – Istanbul

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding and a philanthropic businessman, issued a message on the occasion of World Peace Day on September 1st.

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding, included the following statements in his message;

“September 1st, the day the Second World War began, is celebrated as World Peace Day in our country, as in many countries around the world.

September 1st, World Peace Day, was established to celebrate peace and tranquility after perhaps the bloodiest war in world history, which left millions dead, wounded, and countless victims. Unfortunately, even today, we are forced to celebrate it with a heavy heart. Despite all the suffering and the repeated experience that war, which only benefits arms dealers, is not a solution, the continued perception of war as the first option for resolving problems remains the greatest obstacle to the peace that all of humanity needs.

Despite all these negativities, we, the descendants of our heroic ancestors who ruled the world with justice and tolerance for centuries and established peace across a vast geography, must continue to uphold the principle of “Peace at home, peace in the world,” as expressed by the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and, as we did centuries ago, we must continue to be the hope of the world and the oppressed for peace and tranquility.

“With the hope that it will be an occasion for an end to the bloodshed and tears in the world, I congratulate all people on World Peace Day, September 1st, and with the hope of leaving a better future for our children, whom we see as our future, a future where lasting peace prevails, I wish you happy and peaceful days.”

Abdullah Yiğit – Istanbul

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding and a philanthropic businessman, issued a message on the occasion of August 30th Victory Day.

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding, included the following statements in his message;

Today, we celebrate the 104th anniversary of August 30th Victory Day with great pride; it is the day when the Great Offensive, a turning point in our struggle for independence and freedom, ended in victory.

Our struggle to make Anatolia our homeland, despite all the difficulties encountered, ended in victory on August 30, 1922. Thus, the “August 30th Victory” has been etched in golden letters in our history as one of the symbols of our beloved nation’s determination to protect its independence and future.

This victory, the result of an epic struggle waged despite all the hardships, poverty, and impossibilities, heralded the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. Our duty today is to protect our homeland and our Republic, entrusted to us by our ancestors, with the same awareness and spirit, and to work with all our might for the development of our country.

I commemorate with gratitude and respect all the heroes of the War of Independence who made this land our homeland, especially Commander-in-Chief Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades-in-arms, who gifted us this great victory, and our precious martyrs who sacrificed their lives for our country, and I express my gratitude to our veterans.

I congratulate all members of the Turkish Armed Forces, who selflessly serve for the integrity of our homeland and the independence of our nation, as well as our nation and my fellow citizens of Erzurum and Istanbul, on the 30th August Victory Day, and offer my respect and love.

Abdullah Yiğit – Istanbul

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding and a philanthropic businessman, issued a message on the occasion of Mevlid Kandili (the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday).

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding, included the following statements in his message;

We are experiencing the spiritual peace of reaching Mawlid Kandili, the night commemorating the birth of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who was sent as a mercy to all creation. This exceptional night is a precious opportunity to purify our hearts, to remember the purpose of our creation, and to reflect on the lofty values ​​that guide humanity.

Mawlid al-Nabi (the Prophet’s birthday) is a meaningful period that, in addition to recalling his exemplary life and hadiths (sayings), provides an opportunity to understand the boundless tolerance, compassion, noble character, and guiding counsel of the messenger of mercy who conveyed Islam to humanity.

We should make the most of this blessed night, which is a means for believers to attain blessings, forgiveness, and mercy, by engaging in prayer and worship, and striving to understand the messages conveyed to us by our Prophet (peace be upon him) through his Sunnah and exemplary life, and to reflect these messages in our lives.

May this blessed night be a means of strengthening our unity and solidarity, our peace and brotherhood; may the oppression and conflicts in different parts of the world, especially in Palestine, come to an end as soon as possible, and may the oppressed find peace and security. I pray to Almighty God for this and I congratulate our fellow citizens of Erzurum and Istanbul, our beloved nation, and the entire Islamic world on the occasion of Mawlid Kandil.

Abdullah Yiğit – Istanbul

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding and a philanthropic businessman, issued a message on the occasion of the 955th anniversary of the Battle of Malazgirt.

Asaf Atasoy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Asfa Holding, included the following statements in his message;

It’s August, and the day is Friday.

Before sunrise to the land of Rum

The Grey Wolves army launched an attack.

The heavens thundered with renewed fervor.

Oh God… In the name of God… God is Great…

955 years ago today, the Turkish army, led by Sultan Alparslan, who had sworn to save his homeland and was prepared to become a martyr, defeated the Byzantine army, which was four times larger than its own, thus opening the gates of Anatolia wide to the Turkish nation and making it an eternal homeland.

Sultan Alparslan’s victory at Malazgirt, which made Anatolia the homeland, was far more than just a military success. This victory was not only a battle won against a vastly larger Byzantine army, but also the first step on the road to the founding of the Republic of Turkey.

Sultan Alparslan, the great Seljuk ruler, demonstrated his determination and resolve with these words to his soldiers as he began the Battle of Manzikert: “My soldiers! If I become a martyr, let this white garment be my shroud. Then my soul will ascend to the heavens.” Sultan Alparslan, whose just and merciful rule served as an example for subsequent statesmen, also pioneered an understanding based on peace, tolerance, and love in the Anatolian lands.

We are the descendants of Sultan Alparslan, who faced a Byzantine army of two hundred thousand at Malazgirt and bestowed this victory upon us. The Victory of Malazgirt, a symbol of Turkishness, faith, reason, and strength, remains vibrant in the heart of our nation even after centuries. As we carry our Republic towards brighter tomorrows, the strength we derive from our past will always guide us.

I commemorate with mercy and gratitude all our martyrs who drank the cup of martyrdom for the unity, solidarity, independence, future, and indivisible integrity of the Turkish nation; our veterans; and our ancestors who preserved and glorified our state tradition, from Sultan Alparslan to Osman Gazi, from Fatih to Atatürk. I celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Malazgirt, and I wish for our beloved nation to live in unity and solidarity, free and independent forever. I greet my esteemed fellow citizens with respect and affection.

Happy Victory Day!

May our homeland endure forever.

Abdullah Yiğit – Istanbul