The İstiklal Marşı began as a poem by Mehmet Âkif Ersoy, written in 1921 during the Turkish War of Independence and adopted as Turkey's national anthem in the same year. Set to music for official ceremonies, it has been performed at state events, schools and sporting occasions for more than a century. Its words celebrate independence, faith and sacrifice, which is why it remains a powerful symbol of Turkish identity today and is widely shared online in patriotic edits, commemorations and educational videos.