Retired Colonel with Achievement Medal Banned from Military Facilities for Five Years

The Turkish military's decision to ban retired Colonel Alican Türk from its social facilities, despite his distinguished service record including a success medal for operations against the PKK, raises serious questions about fairness and due process. Colonel Türk, a decorated officer who received his medal for the Çekiç Harekâtı operation in 1997, was reportedly informed of the five-year ban upon arrival at an officers' club in Eskişehir, having received no prior notification.

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My friends and I planned an iftar, and when I went to the officers' club to join them, the duty officer said, 'Commander, your entry to military social facilities appears to be banned.' Frankly, I was greatly surprised. I had not received any notification to this effect before.

This arbitrary application of regulations, citing Article 664 of the TSK Internal Service Regulation which prohibits political discussions, appears to lack concrete evidence. Colonel Türk rightly points out that he was not informed of any specific wrongdoing or given a chance to defend himself, calling the treatment a violation of basic respect owed to a member of the Turkish Armed Forces. This incident echoes similar cases where retired military personnel have faced entry bans to these facilities, suggesting a pattern of arbitrary enforcement.

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If this is a punishment, it should have been communicated to me. Being turned away at the door is an application that is incompatible with the minimum respect that should be shown to a member of the TSK.

From our perspective at Cumhuriyet, this situation highlights a concerning trend. While the military has a right to maintain discipline and uphold its reputation, such actions, if indeed based on political dissent or perceived opposition to certain government policies like counter-terrorism efforts, are deeply troubling. The lack of transparency and the denial of due process undermine the very principles of justice and respect that the TSK should embody. Colonel Türk's commitment to Atatürk's principles and his dedication to the military's honor deserve recognition, not exclusion.

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The ban was justified by Article 664 of the TSK Internal Service Regulation, but I was not informed which clause of the article was applied. I do not know what my crime is, or which of my words or actions were deemed objectionable. Throughout my life, I have taken care to protect the reputation of the Turkish Armed Forces. I served as an officer loyal to Atatürk's principles and reforms.