Teacher Who Objected to TÜGVA Presentation in Antakya Reports Threats

Alleged threats received: Ahmet Karaçay, General Legal and Collective Labor Agreement Secretary of TÖBSEN working at an Anatolian high school in Antakya district of Hatay, recounted that a five-member TÜGVA group that arrived at the school on October 13 presented the association to students and then attempted to photograph a student.

Speaking to Cumhuriyet, Karaçay stated that after he objected to the photograph being taken, a member of the group directed insults and threatening language at him. He also emphasized that the group arrived at a time when the school principal was not on premises due to official duties.

According to Karaçay, the group insisted on entering the classroom by showing authorizations from the Ministry of National Education and the governorate; the vice principal clearly specified that photographs should not be taken when allowing them into one classroom. The presentation continued during the fifth class period.

Foundation and association activities in schools have been a recurring subject of debate in recent years; while the incident in Antakya is among the most recent examples recorded in this context, it remains unclear whether the complaint has been converted into any official investigation.