Sinop Mayor speaks out: 'Gendarmerie officer did not shake my wife's hand, the TSK must not become sectarian'

Sinop Mayor Metin Gürbüz attended a festival in the Pazar district of Rize with his wife, Özlem Gürbüz, the other day. During the festival, 4 gendarmerie officers arrived at the area where the protocol was seated. According to the report by Başak Kaya from Sözcü newspaper, while one of the officers shook the hands of Mayor Gürbüz and his wife and said “Welcome,” the other three shook the mayor's hand but did not shake his wife's. One of them even pulled his hand back, leaving Özlem Gürbüz's hand hanging in the air.

Mayor Gürbüz described the incident as follows:

“Last weekend, there was an event organized by the Fındıklı and Hopa municipalities in the Pazar district of Rize. I went with my wife. Towards the evening at the ceremony, 4 gendarmerie officers arrived. One of them greeted us and shook my hand, my wife's hand, and the hands of those around us. However, the others did not shake my wife's hand. One of them even pulled his hand back. My cousin is a female colonel in the TSK, and my wife's sister retired with the rank of female lieutenant colonel. This country has suffered greatly from the politicization of the military. It is very thought-provoking that a member of the TSK would not civilly shake a woman's hand. Both my wife and I are very upset, and we are concerned by this incident.

'IT IS VERY THOUGHT-PROVOKING THAT A TSK MEMBER WOULD NOT SHAKE A WOMAN'S HAND'

The TSK must not become sectarian or politicized. Because of the politicization of the military, this country lost the Balkans in the past. We all witnessed what happened due to the treacherous coup attempt on July 15. The consequences of politics and sects infiltrating the military are known to us all. What we experienced worried us greatly. I hope it is not as we think, but the signs are there... We have thousands of years of traditions and a strong military. Regardless of their rank, it is very thought-provoking that a TSK member would not civilly shake a woman's hand.”

'ROBED ADMIRAL SCANDAL'

A while ago, a “Robed Admiral Scandal” occurred in the TSK. Rear Admiral Mehmet Sarı, the Naval Supply Commander, had gone to a religious sect house in his official car while wearing a robe and turban over his uniform. No action was taken against Sarı for a long time, and only after public pressure was a disciplinary investigation opened and he was dismissed; he remained in the TSK until the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) meeting and was subsequently retired. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had called this a “singular incident.”

A LIEUTENANT HAD NOT PINNED AN ATATÜRK PHOTO TO HIS LAPEL

At the Tuzla Infantry School Command, on November 10, 2023, during the anniversary ceremony of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's passing, a lieutenant did not pin a photo of Atatürk to his lapel. He gave the excuse that “I didn't have a pin.” Following this, an argument broke out between him and other lieutenants, the incident continued in the dormitory, and a disciplinary investigation was launched. A decision for “Temporary Suspension from Duty” was taken against those who caused the incident, and all were referred to the Land Forces Disciplinary Board.

As a result of the board's investigation, a decision for “Separation from the Armed Forces” was made regarding the 7 lieutenants and military students involved, in accordance with the “Turkish Armed Forces Disciplinary Law and the Regulation on High Disciplinary Boards.” The Tuzla Infantry School Commander was also dismissed. During this process, allegations that some of the trainees had connections to religious groups and sects were brought to the agenda.

On August 10, 2024, within the scope of the 2024 YAŞ decisions that came into effect with the signature of President Tayyip Erdoğan, a new commander was appointed to the Tuzla Infantry School, which had come to the agenda with the chain of events that took place last November 10. In the appointment, which was among the decisions published in the Official Gazette, Major General Alpaslan Kılınç, who most recently served as the Land Forces Command (KKK) Logistics Chief, became the new commander of the Tuzla Infantry School, which is among the most important class schools of the Land Forces Command.

News Source: 12punto