Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Ali Fuad Başgil Law Faculty celebrated the graduation of its students for the 2023-2024 academic year with a ceremony.

The graduation program was attended by Samsun Chief Public Prosecutor Mehmet Sabri Kılıç, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Selim Eren, Çarşamba Mayor Hüseyin Dündar, Samsun Judicial Commission President Nahit Köseoğlu, Ali Fuad Başgil Law Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Hasan Tahsin Keçeligil, Samsun Criminal Department President Erkan Uçar, OMU Faculty of Communication Dean Prof. Dr. Onur Bekiroğlu, Rector's Advisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şener Şentürk, academicians, families, and students.

Chief Prosecutor Kılıç: “I am experiencing more excitement today than at my own graduation 32 years ago”

Samsun Chief Public Prosecutor Mehmet Sabri Kılıç, addressing the audience, stated, “Today, I am speaking not only as a Chief Public Prosecutor but also as a parent. My son Ahmet Furkan is among the graduates today. I am experiencing more excitement today than I did at my own graduation 32 years ago. Among those who govern the state and society, there are numerous lawyers. In our country, as in the rest of the world, many of our parliament members, mayors, and party leaders are law graduates. Future parliament members, governors, district governors, chief prosecutors, and mayors are among you. I congratulate you on choosing and graduating from law school.”

Dean Keçeligil: “First and foremost, stand up for those without anyone to defend them and protect their rights”

Dean Prof. Dr. Hasan Tahsin Keçeligil remarked, “I have had the opportunity to address our graduates from this podium for many years. I congratulate all the families and our new graduates. Our students have graduated after much hard work and effort. Each one of them is very precious to us. Law has been a part of our lives since ancient times. The judiciary is said to have three branches: defense, judgment, and prosecution. No matter where our young lawyers work, I am sure they will always prioritize the principles of the rule of law and the supremacy of law. I would like to tell our young friends, as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said, 'The Republic is especially the protector of those without anyone.' First and foremost, stand up for those without anyone to defend them and protect their rights.”

Valedictorian Özge Işık: “We will fulfill our duties with integrity”

Valedictorian Özge Işık expressed, “Firstly, I would like to express the honor and happiness of making this speech on behalf of my friends. I am proud and happy to graduate as the top student of Ali Fuad Başgil Law Faculty, where I started in 2020 and graduated today. I thank my family, who have always been with me, made countless sacrifices, and brought me to where I am today. I am grateful to my esteemed professors who have made great efforts to instill in us the identity of a lawyer and have worked to nurture objective legal professionals. I dedicate my top ranking to them. As we have been taught, we aim to practice our profession independently, adhering to the principles of justice and fairness and remaining committed to Atatürk's principles. Without law and its protectors, the powerful determine the rules, and these rules crush the weak. At this point, we, as protectors of the law, have great responsibilities. Aware of the importance of our profession, we will fulfill our duties with integrity, adhering to the rules of law, ethics, and honesty.”

After the diplomas were awarded to the graduates, Valedictorian Özge Işık placed her name on the school honor board. Finally, the gathered students recited the graduation oath with Prof. Dr. Keçeligil and enthusiastically tossed their caps into the air.