Minister Koca responds to 'Mossad agent doctor' allegations

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, regarding the allegations following the operation conducted by the MIT against Mossad agents, stated: "We as a nation are proud of the MIT operation carried out against Mossad agents. Among the individuals covered by the operation, there is no foreign national doctor as alleged. The claim that the individual is a 'doctor' is an attempt to 'seize an opportunity'."

"THE CLAIMANTS WANTED IT TO BE TRUE"

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca's statement is as follows:

"We as a nation are proud of the MIT operation carried out against Mossad agents. 15 foreign nationals were arrested, 12 individuals were released under judicial control with a travel ban, and 7 individuals were deported.

While we take pride in the success of our Intelligence Organization, we have had to respond to the lies targeting our Ministry of Health by some individuals who look for opportunities even in a national matter: Among the individuals covered by the operation, there is no foreign national doctor as alleged. If there were, the claimants would have drawn their own conclusions. The truth is not as they wish it to be.

"THE FOREIGN NATIONAL ALLEGED TO BE A DOCTOR IS A CLEANING STAFF MEMBER"

The foreign national alleged to be a doctor is a cleaning staff member. As a result of the operation, he was released by the judicial authorities under judicial control and a travel ban. He is an Egyptian national. He was hired in 2019 within the scope of the Migrant Health Centers project carried out jointly with the European Union. No negative findings were detected in the security investigation conducted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security prior to his recruitment. A work permit was granted to him by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security until January 31, 2024. The cleaning staff member has never been involved in any health services to date.

"THE CLAIM THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS A 'DOCTOR' IS AN ATTEMPT TO 'SEIZE AN OPPORTUNITY'"

The claim that the individual is a 'doctor' is an attempt to 'seize an opportunity'. Because the claimants have repeatedly repeated that foreign national (Syrian) doctors 'received diplomas and citizenship without undergoing security investigations or any exams'. They may now believe the words they have repeated many times. The fact that they believe their own words does not change the concrete reality. No further explanation is needed against these words.

I must provide some information regarding the Migrant Health Centers, where the cleaning staff member worked in one of its units, as they have become a subject of debate. Health services for refugees under temporary protection are provided in Migrant Health Centers within the scope of the project carried out jointly with the EU. In these centers, services are provided only to foreigners under protection.

In Migrant Health Centers, as in all institutions, work permits for foreigners are issued by the International Labor Force General Directorate of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, and necessary security investigations are conducted. A foreign national who has not been granted a work permit cannot be employed in Migrant Health Centers.

The allegation, which promises political gain if it were true, that the cleaning staff member—referred to as a doctor who 'received a diploma and citizenship without undergoing security investigations or any exams'—was also turned into a 'fake doctor' in a sense, is also surprising in this respect: 'The individual identified as an agent was working in a Migrant Health Center in Istanbul where Gazan patients were treated.' It is known by everyone that Gazan patients are treated in large hospitals in Ankara, not in such places."