She is ‘not guilty’ in one investigation, arrested in another

Click to read the article in Turkish

"...she communicates with citizens in a quite official and respectful manner, she sticks to professional ethics a lot, she communicates with her colleagues in respect and love, she is a hard-working friend..."

This is an excerpt from the statements taken as part of a disciplinary investigation launched against Nazan Bozkurt, who would be discharged from public service later on and is currently arrested pending trial.

Nazan Bozkurt's colleagues and director from the Civil Registry defined her with words similar to the excerpt shared above.

As part of the disciplinary investigation launched against Bozkurt, the civil servants working with her were asked "whether Bozkurt made any political speeches, posts or propaganda about the Republic of Turkey and its Constitutional Institutions (Presidency, Parliament, Prime Ministry and Ministries, Turkish Armed Forces, Courts, etc.) and as to the incidents perpetrated by terrorist organizations in our country or the world (FETÖ*, PKK**, DAESH [ISIS] and the like) within her working hours."

Her colleagues were also asked about what they knew as to her work as well as her relationship and dialogue with citizens.

In one of the answers given to these questions, one of her colleagues said that "s/he did not hear Bozkurt talking about such issues or witness her while posting anything or making propaganda about them, they had been colleagues for 6.5 years, they were working together in the ID card department, she was very efficient and hard-working, she came to work on time and s/he had not had any problems with her so far."

Security: She was a complainant, not a suspect

As part of the investigation dated 2017, the Çankaya Security Directorate in Ankara was asked whether it had taken any action against Bozkurt.

In its answer no. 59 dated January 16, 2017, it was indicated that Bozkurt was "a complainant and plaintiff about incidents of insult, threat and harassment, she did not get involved in any crimes and no action had been taken against her by the district security directorate."

She was discharged amid ongoing investigation

Following the administrative investigation against Nazan Bozkurt, it was indicated, "...there are statements suggesting that she did not make any political speeches, posts or propaganda, she has no problems with her colleagues and her work is very efficient..."

However, before this investigation was concluded, Bozkurt was discharged from the Civil Registry by the Statutory Decree no. 683 amid the State of Emergency declared after the failed coup attempt in 2016.

She was discharged because she protested

After she was discharged from public service, Nazan Bozkurt joined the "I want my job back" protests in Yüksek Street in Ankara. Expressing her objections in a legal way, she also objected to her discharge at the State of Emergency Commission and requested her reinstatement.

CLICK - 'I won't stay at home, of course not'

As for the Commission, it has concluded that her discharge was rightful. In giving this decision, the commission referred to her protests after being discharged and the investigations launched into these protests.

CLICK - 'Back to the Future' Decision by the Commission

In the decision of the commission, the investigation launched against Bozkurt 2 years after she was discharged was cited as a justification: "...According to the information obtained from the National Judiciary Informatics System (UYAP), the investigation against the applicant dated 2019/104828 conducted by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office on charge of being a member of an armed terrorist organization is still ongoing..."

Within this context, the Commission also referred to the files of the investigation and lawsuits against Bozkurt on charge of "membership of a terrorist organization" and alleged that "the information and documents in these files as well as other findings in the inquiry section revealed her connection with the DHKP/C*** terrorist organization."

Nazan Bozkurt is currently arrested in Gebze Prison as part of another lawsuit launched against her over his protests in the Yüksel Street.

She will have her first hearing tomorrow (December 9). (AS/SD)

* Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), which is held responsible for the military coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016. **Outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). ***Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)