Turkism Day

Turkism Day (Turkish: Türkçülük Günü), or Turkists' Day (Turkish: Türkçüler Günü), is celebrated on 3 May since 1945 in memory of the rallies in defense of Nihal Atsız,^[1] who was prosecuted for defamation by Sabahattin Ali, whom Atsiz called a Soviet spy in an article he wrote.^[2]

Defendants of the Racism-Turanism trials

For the second hearing in his trial against Ali, Atsiz's supporters welcomed him arriving at Ankara train station, where they burned books by Ali and Nâzım Hikmet.^[3] The rally was mainly by racists and Turanists who shouted slogans against communists.^[2][4] During the trial, they massed in the courtroom, as well in front of the court.^[3] They later marched to Ulus Square, where they eventually clashed with the police.^[3] Following the rally, many participants were arrested, and some of them were defendants in the Racism Turanism trial.^[5]

Reha Oğuz Türkkan, Atsız, Alparslan Türkeş, Nejdet Sançar and others who were imprisoned in the Tophane Military Prison held a reunion on 3 May 1945 to remember the rallies in support of Atsız. That was the start of Turkism Day,^[6][5] which is celebrated by the Turkish Hearths,^[7] the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) (under the name of Nationalists' Day),^[8] the Good Party (İyi Party),^[9] and other Turkish nationalist organizations.

In 1967, the Union of Turkish Nationalists published a book in memory of Turkism Day.^[10]