‘Prayer’ setup against teacher who exposed irregularities: Mafia-like network back in the spotlight

In the Çamlıyayla district of Mersin, Guidance Counselor Barış Kaya, who reported student abuse cases at a boarding middle school to judicial authorities, was punished and exiled based on baseless allegations fabricated by administrative officials.

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‘Prayer’ setup against teacher who exposed irregularities: Mafia-like network back in the spotlight

In an incident reflected in official Gendarmerie and District Directorate of National Education documents, it was revealed through Gendarmerie reports that the administration, seeking to cover up irregularities and abuse cases, attempted to frame the guidance counselor with allegations of "forcing students to pray," and that cleaning staff refused to provide false testimony. 12punto has obtained the relevant documents.

At the center of the scandal are District Director of National Education İsmail Bahadır Çetin and the school administration, who have previously been in the news for irregularities in education.

Pressure Began with Objections to Illegal Book Sales

According to information provided by Guidance Counselor Barış Kaya, the process began following his appointment in 2024.

After Acting District Director of National Education (current District Director) İsmail Bahadır Çetin and Branch Manager Mehmet Ağar initiated illegal publishing house and practice exam applications in schools in violation of Ministry of National Education regulations, Kaya opposed the irregularities.

Kaya, who also supported teacher Abdullah Cankara—who had previously been targeted for speaking out about public losses and irregularities in the district—began to be subjected to severe mobbing and threats following the appointment of School Principal Cengiz Demir.

Abuse Case at the Dormitory and Allegations of Bureaucratic Cover-up

Barış Kaya, who worked at Darıpınarı Martyr Oğuzhan Sezer Boarding Middle School, identified abuse incidents occurring among students at the school dormitory in February 2026. Kaya's attempts to immediately report the situation to the administration and request psychosocial intervention were blocked by School Principal Cengiz Demir and Vice Principal Badel Cemile Sak.

Stating that attempts were made to prevent the incident from reaching judicial authorities through pressure from District Director of National Education İsmail Bahadır Çetin, Branch Manager Mehmet Ağar, and Provincial Director of National Education Muhammed Özdemirci, and that the abuse cycle was swept under the rug by intimidating parents and students, Kaya took the situation directly to Gendarmerie units and the Public Prosecutor's Office and filed a criminal complaint.

Gendarmerie Reports Exposed the Setup

Following the abuse scandal reaching the courthouse, the school administration took action to discredit the guidance counselor. According to statements entered into official Gendarmerie and District Gendarmerie Command interrogation reports, School Principal Cengiz Demir and Vice Principal Badel Cemile Sak called cleaning staff Tuğçe Tarhan and Eda Keklik to the principal's office and put them under pressure.

In their written statements included in the Gendarmerie file, cleaning staff Tuğçe Tarhan and Eda Keklik provided the following testimony:

"School Principal Cengiz Demir and Vice Principal Badel Cemile Sak called us into the office and used threatening and coercive language, saying, 'You will testify against Barış Kaya, claiming he forced students to pray, made them clean toilets, shouted at students, and treated them poorly. We are the administration; if you act otherwise, you will lose your jobs.' We refused, stating that this would be false testimony and slander. We witnessed that Mr. Barış is an extremely positive educator toward students."

While the investigation process was still ongoing, the employment of cleaning staff Tuğçe Tarhan and Eda Keklik was terminated in April due to these statements.

Punishment Signed by İsmail Bahadır Çetin Despite Setup Reports

Although the cleaning staff documented the administration's pressure for false statements with Gendarmerie reports and rejected the allegations, the fabricated justifications were turned into an administrative investigation report.

In the decision notified on June 17, 2026, signed by District Director of National Education İsmail Bahadır Çetin, who has previously been mentioned in reports regarding public losses, it was claimed that the allegation that Barış Kaya "made students clean toilets because they did not perform Tarawih prayers during Ramadan and insulted students" had been "proven," and a "1/30 Salary Deduction" penalty was imposed in accordance with Law No. 657.

Exile with the Approval of the Provincial Director of National Education

Barış Kaya, who was punished with baseless accusations for reporting the abuse case to judicial authorities, was exiled from Çamlıyayla to Turhan Akay Middle School in the Mut district under the name of "Requirement of Service (Investigation)" with a Governorate Decree approved by Provincial Director of National Education Muhammed Özdemirci on August 31, 2026.

While the "prayer setup" orchestrated to cover up irregularities in educational institutions and the clear threats in the interrogation reports are under review by judicial authorities, the allegations against the provincial and district national education administrators who signed off on the punitive actions continue to cause deep repercussions in public opinion.

News: Cenk BAŞBOĞAOĞLU

News Source: Cenk Başboğaoğlu