(MENAFN) Türkiye commemorated the 87th anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s death on Monday with an official ceremony at his mausoleum, Anitkabir, in Ankara.

The event was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus, members of the Cabinet, political leaders, senior judicial officials, and top military commanders. President Erdogan laid a wreath of red and white carnations shaped like the Turkish flag at Ataturk’s tomb.

At 9:05 am local time (0605 GMT), the exact hour of Ataturk’s passing, participants observed a moment of silence followed by the national anthem, while the Turkish flag was lowered to half-staff.

Following the tribute, Erdogan and officials visited the Misak-i Milli Tower, where he signed the Anitkabir Memorial Book in honor of Ataturk and his fellow leaders.

“We passionately protect the Republic of Türkiye, which you called your 'greatest work,' and continue to adorn every inch of our country with new achievements,” Erdogan wrote. “Under the leadership of competent and qualified cadres, Türkiye is progressing with confident steps on its path to becoming a global power,” he added.

Ataturk, who served as Türkiye’s first president, passed away in Istanbul on November 10, 1938, at the age of 57 due to cirrhosis. Each year on this date, Turkish citizens traditionally visit Anitkabir to pay their respects to the nation’s founding father.

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