July 15 veteran Brigadier General retired: Is the Menzil sect behind the decision?

Brigadier General Nurettin Alkan, who fought against the coup plotters until morning at the Gendarmerie General Command headquarters during the FETÖ coup attempt on July 15, 2016, and became a veteran after being wounded in the shoulder, has been retired following his reassignment to headquarters.

On the night of the coup, Alkan engaged in combat alongside his fellow soldiers Ahmet Hacıoğlu, Ali Demir, Güven Şağban, and Aziz Yılmaz to rescue the headquarters from the coup-plotting soldiers, and was wounded after being shot in the arm during the clashes. Alkan, who was the Head of the Intelligence Department of the Gendarmerie General Command at the time, was reassigned to headquarters last week following a decision made after the passing of years.

“MENZIL WANTED IT, HE WAS RETIRED”

A striking claim regarding the decision in question came from journalist Saygı Öztürk. In his column today, Öztürk used the phrase, "Menzil wanted it, the veteran general was retired." Stating that the influence of the sect has extended to promotion processes within the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), Öztürk wrote that a member of the sect had taken and shared a photo with some generals last year, and that this situation was contrary to the traditions within the institution.

In his article, Öztürk emphasized that religious practices such as "does he pray?" or "does he fast?" are now used as criteria in promotion processes, and included the following statements:

"A commander said it openly: Criteria such as whether they pray or fast are sought in promotions. Questions that should be asked by God are being asked by us."

CHP Deputy Chairman and Shadow Minister responsible for the Ministry of Interior, Murat Bakan, also made important statements regarding the process. Bakan stated that the Menzil, Kurdoğlu, and Süleymancı groups are particularly influential in appointments, assignments, and promotions.

Reminding that he frequently brings the issue to the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) and directs questions to the Ministry of Interior, Bakan argued that the state's security bureaucracy is being shaped according to sect connections rather than merit.

NEW CRITERION IN PROMOTIONS: RELIGIOUS REFERENCES

Another point that drew attention in Öztürk's article was the new approach in the command echelon. It was alleged that when lower-ranking personnel wanted to meet with high-level commanders, the meetings were delayed or canceled with excuses such as "the commander is at prayer" or "he went to the mosque." This situation was interpreted as religious symbols and practices interfering with institutional relations, unlike the traditions of the past.

SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL (YAŞ) MEETING ON AUGUST 5

The Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) meeting, where the names of those retired, including Alkan, will be announced, will be held on August 5. The names of those retired and those to be promoted will be clarified at the meeting, which is expected to begin at 12:00 at the Presidential Complex under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.