Gaziantep City Liberation Day in Turkey

Gaziantep, previously and still informally called Aintab or Antep, is the capital of the Gaziantep Province, in the westernmost part of Turkey's Southeastern Anatolia Region and partially in the Mediterranean Region, approximately 185 km (115 mi) east of Adana and 97 km (60 mi) north of Aleppo, Syria. It is thought to be located on the site of ancient Antiochia ad Taurum, and is near ancient Zeugma.

After the First World War and Armistice of Mudros, Gaziantep was occupied by United Kingdom on 17 December 1918, and it was transferred to France on 5 November 1919. French Armenian Legion was also involved in occupation. In April 1920 irregular Turkish troops known as Kuva-yi Milliye sieged the city, but the 10 month long battle resulted in French victory. Around 6,000 Turkish civilians were murdered in progress. On 25 December 1921, Treaty of Ankara was signed and as a result French evacuated the city.

December 25 is the anniversary of the liberation of Gaziantep from the French occupation. The liberation of Gaziantep, one of the important symbols of the national struggle, from the enemy occupation was celebrated with solemn events on the occasion of the anniversary.

As of the 31/12/2021 last estimation, the Metropolitan Province was home to 2,130,432 inhabitants, of whom 1,775,904 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of two (out of three) urban districts of Şahinbey and Şehitkamil, as Oğuzeli is not conurbated. It is the sixth-most populous city in Turkey.