Is the disappearance of landscape architect Ece Gürel linked to workplace pressure? Statement from her boss

Ece Gürel has not been heard from since she left her home in Istanbul's Kağıthane Gültepe neighborhood on Sunday afternoon and sent a message to a friend stating that she was going to the Belgrade Forest.

Following a report by her friend, numerous search and rescue teams, primarily AFAD and AKUT, have launched a search and rescue operation in the Belgrade Forest for Gürel, who is understood to be a landscape architect.

'THEY PUT HER IN THE SAME ROOM WITH 4-5 LAWYERS'

Gürel's relative, Yusuf Çeştepe, stated: "As far as I know, the argument is not with her spouse. The problem starts at the workplace. She started working at the law firm as a secretary; she has a 10-year history there. Her actual profession is landscape architect. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Forestry. She knows the region and is not a stranger to these places; she already spent 4 years of her student life here. She loves nature and enjoys photography. She is someone who frequently walks in forested areas like this. So, she likes such places. On Friday, they fired Ece and made her sign a contract stating that she would not receive her severance pay. They put her in the same room with 4-5 lawyers. We don't know what kind of psychological pressure she was subjected to there, what happened, or what kind of mobbing was applied. We don't even know if it was a 1-week or 10-day process. Ece's problem at the workplace started when it snowed. When it snowed, Ece said, 'I'll resign then,' and there was an argument between them. Afterwards, they made Ece work for another week. At the beginning of the week, they asked Ece, 'Are you going to work?' She said, 'I will work, I said it in anger, I will not resign.' They said, 'Okay' on Monday. They made her work until Friday; on Friday, at the end of the shift, they called Ece into the room. They said, 'Since you said it, you will sign.' They pressured Ece, and she signed."

'WE DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF PSYCHOLOGY SHE WAS EXPOSED TO'

Çeştepe said, "Ece used to meditate and read tarot cards. She loved to meditate; she was very fond of those things they call energy, she was curious about those things. We think that is the reason she came here. We think she came for meditation. We think she came to relax, but unfortunately, we cannot find where she is. We don't know what condition she is in or how she is right now. We are waiting to find Ece safe and sound; we don't want to think the worst. A week ago, we were saying 'She wouldn't do it.' We don't know what kind of situation she was exposed to during this 10-day process. We hope that we will find Ece. Hopefully, that will be the case. That is our hope."

'WE SAID LET'S GIVE EACH OTHER TIME'

Following this claim by Çeştepe, Gürel's boss, speaking to Ekol TV, stated the following:

"Ece's disappearance has nothing to do with the workplace. Believe me, I am saying this sincerely. Ece was working; she had not been fired yet. We said let's give each other time. Her employment contract has not been terminated yet. Ece signed for a temporary period."