Remarkable decision by the trustee management: Mehmet Akif Ersoy's ex-wife Pınar Erbaş has been fired! 'I am very surprised and hurt...'

The drug investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against celebrities in October extended to the media world, and Habertürk Editor-in-Chief Mehmet Akif Ersoy, who was detained on December 9, was arrested and sent to prison on December 11.

The court's decision stated that Ersoy faced charges of "providing a place and opportunity for the use of narcotic substances," "establishing and managing an organization," and "committing crimes for the purpose of providing sectoral and financial benefits."

The trustee management previously appointed to Can Medya had terminated the employment of Mehmet Akif Ersoy, who was detained in the drug investigation.

Following the arrest of Mehmet Akif Ersoy, his ex-wife and Show TV Main News anchor Pınar Erbaş also came to the public's attention.

While it was noted that Erbaş had not appeared on the main news bulletin since December 19, Hande Bayraktar had presented the Show TV Main News on that date instead of Pınar Erbaş.

Following this development, allegations were made that she had been removed from the screen by the TMSF management due to the investigation file in which Erbaş's name was allegedly mentioned in witness statements.

Following the allegations, Pınar Erbaş made a statement on her social media account, explaining that she had requested leave to stay away from the screen for a while.

“I am going through a process that is difficult to describe in words.                

 I am facing the reality that a period of my life has been spent with lies, deception, and fabrication.     

For days, I have been presenting news that is devastating and indescribably heavy for me, without sleep. 

In the first few days, I thought I could endure it and continue my life without disrupting my work. However, my strength has run out. 

I no longer have the energy to present even a single piece of news on the subject. 

For this reason, I requested leave to stay away from the screen for a while. 

I thank my managers for understanding this request and for approaching my situation with sensitivity.”

While new waves of operations in the drug investigation continue, a striking decision has been made regarding Pınar Erbaş.

The trustee management has terminated Pınar Erbaş's employment at the institution. In a statement she made on her social media account following the decision, Erbaş used the following expressions:

“Even though I am a main news anchor obligated to convey every piece of news with impartiality, my employment was terminated because it was not desired that I present 'news about my ex-husband.' 

 I was on a short leave period. First, my leave was extended, and in the subsequent process, I was informed that I would not be returning to work at the same place. 

It is impossible for me to accept being a victim of a story that I cannot even bring myself to be a victim of. 

A great injustice… 

Although I am in a situation that cannot be debated from a legal and moral standpoint, I leave it to the public's discretion to judge the contradiction created by citing being an 'ex-wife' with the principle of personal criminal responsibility.  

There is also the dimension of gender inequality in the matter. If I were the woman at the center of the accusations in question, would the other party's employment have been terminated? I asked it as a question, but I actually know the answer. 

15 years of effort… In my career, which continued with internships, reporting, editing, and anchoring, I climbed every step with a thousand struggles, like many of us, within the framework of professional principles and ethical rules, with all my colleagues as witnesses. 

The career is mine. I did it alone. I will do it again. 

But I am very shocked and hurt.”