Turkish teacher penalized for speaking positively about Armenians; files lawsuit against disciplinary actions

ISTANBUL — In a scene that many in Turkish society have grown accustomed to witnessing over the decades, often with little accountability or preventive action, Turkish language and literature teacher İsmibey Güşeli has faced disciplinary punishment from the Istanbul Directorate of National Education for hosting the newspapers Agos and Evrensel in the teachers’ room at Avcılar Firüzköy Anadolu High School, where he was employed, and for speaking positively about the Armenian people in an interview with the publications.

An act that would typically be regarded in democratic countries as a sign of openness and tolerance toward different peoples and minorities was instead treated by Turkish authorities as a serious offense. As a result, Güşeli was subjected to harsh penalties, including a transfer to Kadriye Moroğlu Anadolu High School in Küçükçekmece, the suspension of his professional advancement, and a 25 percent reduction in his monthly salary.

Describing the punishment as severe and unjust, Güşeli filed a lawsuit with the Istanbul Governor’s Office seeking to annul the disciplinary measures and reverse his transfer.

It later emerged that, prior to his appointment in November, several complaints had been filed against him by colleagues with the Avcılar Directorate of National Education. The complaints alleged that since the 2023–2024 academic year, he had used phrases, words, and behaviors that could offend students in his classes. Instead of focusing on the general objectives of the curriculum, he was accused of creating discomfort among students by introducing political ideas unrelated to the coursework, addressing ethnic, religious, and sectarian issues, and allegedly practicing discrimination by favoring Alevis over other ethnic and religious groups.

He was also accused of making statements in support of and praising Armenians and Selahattin Demirtaş, engaging in ideological ridicule through the newspapers Agos and Evrensel, disrupting peace within the school, using inappropriate and insulting language toward colleagues, failing to comply with majority decisions, and hindering cooperation by imposing his own views.

Agos later obtained information from Güşeli’s lawyer, Bilgütay Hakkı Durna, who stated that the appointed judges reviewed the complaints and demanded disciplinary action against his client. Durna filed a separate lawsuit seeking the annulment of the penalties, arguing that Güşeli’s right to defend himself had been restricted and that the presumption of innocence had been violated.

According to Durna, Güşeli was provided with an incomplete copy of the investigation file despite submitting a written request and was not properly informed of the specific accusations against him or how the alleged actions constituted disciplinary violations.

The petition also noted that Güşeli, who resides in Esenyurt, previously required only 20 minutes to commute to his school in Avcılar. Due to an accident involving his wife and her subsequent health condition, it is important for him to be assigned to a school closer to his home.

Despite repeatedly informing the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education, both verbally and in writing, of his request for reassignment to a school in the Esenyurt area — where there is reportedly a shortage of teachers — his family circumstances were not taken into consideration.

Durna further stated that the administrative court rejected the request to suspend the execution of the transfer decision. The case is now pending before the Court of Appeals. He confirmed that additional lawsuits challenging the disciplinary penalties have been filed and that legal proceedings remain ongoing.