Gaziantep’s Panorama 25 December Museum, which commemorates the city’s resistance during Türkiye’s War of Independence, continues to attract strong public interest, with nearly 1.5 million visitors recorded in the five years since it opened.
The museum was inaugurated in December 2020 by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and focuses on the Antep Defence of 1919 to 1921, a civilian-led struggle against French occupation forces. Through immersive displays, original documents, artworks and period artefacts, the museum presents a detailed account of the city’s role in the broader national fight for independence.
“This is not only Gaziantep’s story, but the story of Türkiye’s War of Independence,” said Bekir Sıtkı Severoğlu, chairman of the museum’s Historical Council. “What happened here a century ago — the destruction of hospitals and civilian areas — can still be seen today in places like Gaza and Ukraine. This museum is not about hatred, but about remembrance and conscience.”
Located in Gaziantep’s Seferpaşa neighbourhood, the Panorama 25 December Museum is organised into four main sections. Its centrepiece is a series of large-scale panoramic paintings created by Russian artist Alexander Samsonov, depicting key moments from the Antep Defence. The collection also includes weapons, personal belongings donated by veterans’ families and architectural fragments from buildings damaged during the conflict.
Museum officials say the site aims to preserve historical memory while highlighting the resilience of civilians during wartime. A new permanent hall dedicated to resistance commander Şahinbey’s military archives is scheduled to open later this year, marking the 104th anniversary of Gaziantep’s liberation.
Authorities say the continued interest from both domestic and international visitors reflects the museum’s role as a cultural landmark and an educational space linking past conflicts with contemporary global realities.
Armenians will vote on Sunday in a parliamentary election that will determine whether Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan secures a new mandate to pursue ...
U.S. President Donald Trump said he sees progress between Israel and Lebanon after talks with Netanyahu, while Hezbollah has rejected a new ceasefire ...
Germany has failed to secure a rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council, ending decades of successful bids and prompting fresh debate abou...
Urbicide is as much about destroying a community’s identity as it is about destroying its physical space, according to a new study examining the cit...
Five Azerbaijani citizens have been killed and three others injured following drone attacks on two cargo vessels in the Sea of Azov, Azerbaijan's Fore...
Armenians will vote on Sunday in a parliamentary election that will determine whether Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan secures a new mandate to pursue peace with Azerbaijan or cedes ground to pro-Russian rivals.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he sees progress between Israel and Lebanon after talks with Netanyahu, while Hezbollah has rejected a new ceasefire proposal and Israel has ruled out a troop withdrawal.
Germany has failed to secure a rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council, ending decades of successful bids and prompting fresh debate about the country's diplomatic standing on the global stage.
Urbicide is as much about destroying a community’s identity as it is about destroying its physical space, according to a new study examining the cities of Grozny in Chechnya, Aghdam in Azerbaijan and Aleppo in Syria.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said in a statement that its Aerospace Force did not strike the Kuwait Airport passenger terminal on Wednesday, and that the destruction was instead caused by a failed U.S. Patriot missile.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon, while both sides will resume direct talks later this month aimed at reaching a broader agreement.
As Armenia heads toward parliamentary elections on 7 June, the country's relationship with Azerbaijan is emerging as one of the defining issues of the campaign, with analysts and international observers highlighting the role of regional politics in shaping voters’ mindsets.
The United Kingdom has begun using SpaceX's Starshield satellite network for military operations, according to people familiar with the matter, marking one of the first known deployments of the secure government-focused system outside the U.S.
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that would provide new aid to Ukraine and impose additional sanctions on Russia, marking the latest instance of Republican lawmakers breaking ranks with President Donald Trump and party leaders.
Germany has failed to secure a rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council, ending decades of successful bids and prompting fresh debate about the country's diplomatic standing on the global stage.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea on 8-9 June, marking his first trip to the country in nearly seven years as Beijing seeks to strengthen relations with its long-time ally.
A blaze at a popular market in northeast Thailand sent vendors fleeing and left five people in hospital, with police investigating a suspected electrical short circuit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet for direct talks aimed at ending the war between their countries, saying Ukraine remains ready for peace but will continue fighting if no agreement can be reached.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 5 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment