Head of Human Rights Association Diyarbakır Office, Teacher Bilici Suspended

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Raci Bilici, head of the Human Rights Association’s (İHD) Diyarbakır Branch Office is among the 4,350 teachers suspended following an announcement by the Ministry of National Education (MEB) on Twitter on September 8. Receiving a notification regarding the suspension today (September 19), Bilici told bianet that he was not given any specific justification.

The notification only says that Bilici was suspended with approval by the Ministry for  violating Articles 6,7,8 and 10 of the State Personnel Law No. 657, which prohibits civil servants from “damaging the State’s reputation”.

Yet the notification does not specify how he violated the regulations nor has any administrative or legal investigation been launched against him.

4,350 teachers suspended in Diyarbakır

Bilici, who is a member of the Workers’ Union of Employees in Education and Science (Eğitim Sen), has been staging a sit-in with other teachers from the union since the day of their suspension. On Wednesday (September 21) the legal process of appeal will be initiated.

Academics and teachers suspended through Statutory Decrees (KHK), on the other hand, are excluded from legal remedy.

Over 40,000 people were laid off in Statutory Decree No. 672. The Ministry of National Education, with 28,163 dismissals, became the institution most affected by the redundancies.

Noting that the schools were empty and students were confused, Bilici added that these circumstances caused economic and social damage as well as disturbed peace in the community. (AS/DG)