Public Officer Not Reinstated Despite Court Verdict

Click to read the article in Turkish

Hasan Emre Şentürk was working as a specialist at the Gaziantep Silkroad Development Agency. He was dismissed by the agency's board of directors upon the Statutory Decree No. 667 on July 26, 2016, 11 days after the coup attempt.

Şentürk filed a lawsuit for reinstatement on August 18, 2016, at Gaziantep 2nd Labor Court.

Meanwhile, Antep Chief Public Prosecutor's Office discontinued the investigation against him for "membership of an illegal organization."

The labor court ruled for Şentürk's reinstatement and the court of appeal approved the verdict. Yet he was unable to return to his post. "Please help me. Help me to make my voice heard. I am in a very difficult situation," he said.

He told bianet that four employees were reinstated after the prosecutor discontinued investigations against them although they had not filed a lawsuit. Two people also returned to their posts after court rulings for reinstatement.

"I don't have a friend at court and I'm an Alevi," he said. His father spoke with Gaziantep Governor Davut Gül, who told him that "do we have to reinstate everyone who won a lawsuit?" Şentürk told bianet.

The prosecutor's office had written letters to the Social Security Agency, Gaziantep Anti-Terror Police, Gaziantep Provincial Education Directorate and Bank Asya to find out if Şentürk is associated with the "Fethullahist Terrorist Organization" (FETÖ), which is held responsible for the 2016 coup attempt. All the agencies said he was not associated with the organization.

The prosecutor's office also stated on April 24, 2018, that he did not use the "Bylock" application, there was not any movement of money in his account in Bank Asya, the bank associated with FETÖ, and he was not subscribed to any publication that is associated with the organization.

The labor court ruled that he shall be reinstated and receive his severance pay. Gaziantep Regional Court of Justice 9th Law Chamber (court of appeal) approved the labor court's verdict on January 9, 2019. He has still not been reinstated. (AS/VK)