Under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey, the International Symposium on Pioneers of the Turkish Written Language in Anatolia and Aşık Paşa, organized in collaboration with the Governorate of Kırşehir, the Atatürk Cultural, Language, and History Higher Council of the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish Language Institution, and Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, has started. The symposium started with an opening program on November 20, 2025 at Ahi Evran Congress and Culture Center 15 July National Will Hall. Kırşehir Governor Murat Sefa Demiryürek, Kırşehir Administrative Court President Mehmet Ali Gürer, Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, Turkish Language Association Vice President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Harun Şahin, Deputy Governor İsmail Çetinkaya, Kırşehir Provincial Gendarmerie Commander Col. Ahmet Yıldırım, Kırşehir Provincial Police Chief Mesut Görücü, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Şimşek, provincial administrators, institution directors, NGO representatives, scientists, deans, directors, academic and administrative staff, students, and members of the press.

The International Symposium on Pioneers of the Turkish Written Language in Anatolia and Aşık Paşa began with opening speeches. First, Co-Chair of the Symposium Prof. Dr. Nadir İlhan took the floor and spoke about the purpose of the symposium. Emphasizing that this symposium was a continuation of the International Yunus Emre and Development of the Turkish Written Language in Anatolia Symposium they had previously organized, İlhan announced that they would hold a third symposium in the future. Prof. Dr. Nadir İlhan explained the contributions of figures such as Aşık Paşa, Yunus Emre, and Gülşehri, who produced works in the Turkish language, to Anatolian culture. He provided information about the symposium and thanked everyone who contributed to its organization.

Later, Vice President of the Turkish Language Institution Associate Professor Dr. Harun Şahin delivered a speech and provided information about the work of the Turkish Language Institution. Şahin noted that figures such as Yunus Emre, Aşık Paşa, Gülşehri, and Hacı Bektaş Veli made significant contributions to the Turkish language and culture, adding that these important personalities were pioneers in strengthening the Turkish language in Anatolia by producing works in Turkish during their own times. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Harun Şahin expressed his happiness in supporting all projects that contribute to the development of the Turkish language and thanked everyone who contributed to the organization of the symposium.

Following this, Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil gave a speech emphasizing that Kırşehir is the city where the leading figures in the formation of the Turkish written language in Anatolia lived. Explaining that Aşık Paşa was one of the important figures who lived in Kırşehir, Rector Karahocagil continued his speech as follows: "While everyone spoke Arabic, Persian, and Hebrew and produced works during the period in which Aşık Paşa lived, he preferred to use the Turkish language. Yunus Emre also made important contributions to the development of our language by using Turkish in his works." Explaining that Kırşehir Ahi Evran University has taken on an important role in spreading the values of our culture and civilization to the general public and passing them on to the future, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil said that they will fulfill this role in the best way possible through such organizations and activities. “We aim to follow in the footsteps of Aşık Paşa to preserve our language, which is the most important part of our civilization,” said Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, thanking the institutions that supported our university in organizing the symposium and expressing his hope that the symposium would be productive.

Finally, Kırşehir Governor Murat Sefa Demiryürek delivered a speech. In his speech, Governor Demiryürek stated that Kırşehir had made significant contributions to Anatolia becoming the homeland of the Turks, and he also emphasized that Kırşehir was a place where the Turkish language took root and developed. “Turkish is today the memory, identity, and future of our nation,” said Kırşehir Governor Murat Sefa Demiryürek, noting that this symposium was not merely an academic endeavor but an important symposium for reinterpreting our culture and civilization and carrying them into the future. Governor Demiryürek also emphasized his satisfaction that Kırşehir Ahi Evran University was hosting such an important symposium and thanked everyone who contributed to its organization.

Following the opening speeches, a Sufi Turkish Music concert was given by Dean of the Neşet Ertaş Faculty of Fine Arts Prof. Dr. Kubilay Kolukırık and his students.

Following the concert, the opening session chaired by Prof. Dr. Nadir İlhan began. During the session, faculty member at Ege University Prof. Dr. Güler Gülsevin presented “Turkmen Elements in Old Anatolian Turkish Texts”, faculty member at Manisa Celal Bayar University Prof. Dr. Ayşe İlker presented "Garîb-nâme“ and a faculty member at Fırat University Prof. Dr. Ahmet Buran presented on ”The Use of Oğuz Turkish in Writing and the Issue of It Being a Written Language According to the Information Provided in Tevârih-i Âl-i Selçuk."

The International Symposium on Pioneers of the Turkish Literary Language in Anatolia and Aşık Paşa will continue with sessions in different halls until November 22, 2025.