Ministry of National Defense issues statement on ban on entry to military social facilities

Sources from the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) have issued a statement regarding allegations that some retired military personnel are banned from entering military social facilities (orduevi). The MSB announced that legal action was taken against the retired personnel who were banned from entry because they engaged in intentional and systematic criticism directed at the Turkish Armed Forces.

Ministry of National Defense sources provided an explanation regarding claims that some retired soldiers are banned from entering military social facilities. Regarding the retired personnel who were banned from entering these facilities, MSB sources stated: "Legal action has been taken against the retired personnel who have recently been banned from entering military social facilities, not because of their criticisms of our Ministry and the Turkish Armed Forces, but because it was determined that they engaged in intentional and systematic words and behaviors."

'WE THANK THEM ONCE AGAIN FOR THEIR SERVICE'

The statement made by the Ministry of National Defense sources included the following:

"Recently, statements, comments, and evaluations targeting our Ministry and our Turkish Armed Forces have been made in the public sphere regarding the banning of some retired soldiers from entering military social facilities. First and foremost, we would like to emphasize that our personnel who have completed their terms of service with great dedication and honor are very valuable to us, and we thank them all once again for their service.

However, as clearly stated in the legislation, those who, despite not being given a special task, make statements, write articles, or otherwise make declarations about the duties and locations they held during their active duty period due to their position and title, or who are determined through information and documents received from various commands and official sources to have engaged in clearly derogatory words and behaviors aimed at damaging subordinate-superior relations or destroying the sense of trust in superiors or commanders, may be temporarily or permanently banned from entering military social facilities, military casinos, and other military social facilities.

Legal action has been taken against the retired personnel who have recently been banned from entering military social facilities, not because of their criticisms of our Ministry and the Turkish Armed Forces, but because it was determined that they engaged in words and behaviors that fall within the scope of the aforementioned legislation in an intentional and systematic manner. The TSK will in no way tolerate indiscipline or approaches that place personal interests above institutional values."