Turkish governor suspends local official for anti-republic post

A Turkish governor on Oct. 30 suspended the local youth and sports director, Cumali Özince, in the central Konya district following his negative social media post about the centennial of the Turkish Republic.

Monday October 30 2023 05:02 pm

Duvar English

The Konya Governor’s Office suspended Cumali Özince, the local youth and sports director, after his social media post mourning the last day of the Ottoman Empire at the centennial of the Turkish Republic, according to reporting by Anadolu Agency.

Özince’s Oct. 28-dated post read, “Give your blessings Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi [the founding rulers of the Ottoman dynasty]! Today is the last day of your legacy that none of the great powers could destroy,” referring to the abolishment of the Ottoman Empire and the foundation of the republic.

Özince removed the post after it drew criticism from the public. He shared a new post that wished for the republic’s “eternal endurance.”

Konya's Ereğli district head of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has accused Özince of being “hostile” against the republic and its founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

The governor’s office has suspended the director and opened an investigation into the social media post.

The Youth and Sports Ministry also deployed an inspector for the investigation.