Inspector candidate labeled ‘red’ by ministry confirms profiling reports


Date posted: February 21, 2014

ANKARA

A candidate inspector for the Ministry of Finance who learned from recent media reports that he had been profiled by the ministry on the basis of his family background has confirmed that the information disclosed by the media matches his personal information.

The candidate, who said he had failed all three oral exams in which he took part, said: “The grade by my name on the document, the references and all the information about my hometown completely match [my personal data]. I’m finished,” the candidate told Today’s Zaman.

Today’s Zaman contacted a candidate who, although he had achieved a good grade in the written exam, failed the later oral exams, allegedly because the candidate had been put on a “red list” by the ministry on the basis of his personal data.

The candidate did not want his name to be revealed, as he will sit two more oral exams to become a civil servant. “Am I not a citizen of this country?” the candidate, who sounded highly vexed, demanded to know.

Reports that appeared during the week in the Taraf daily demonstrated that the government has a recruitment policy based on “color lists” to avoid employing, in the public sector, people affiliated with certain groups, such as the Hizmet movement and the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).

As well as sympathizers of the Hizmet movement, which is inspired by Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, and the CHP, Kurds, Alevis, as Alevism is considered an unorthodox Muslim sect by some, nationalists and those who took part in the Gezi Park demonstrations are also placed on the “red list” indicating that the candidate should not be employed, according to the daily.

There are also blue and green lists, according to Taraf, of approved candidates, with blue lists consisting of candidates closely affiliated with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and those who were “brought up” by the National Youth Foundation (MGV), an Islamic charity organization that organized youth activities and provided academic scholarships to students but was closed in the aftermath of the Feb. 28, 1997 coup due to concerns of rising religious fundamentalism. Candidates who are members of the İlim Yayma Cemiyeti, a religious association that may have close ties to the ruling party, are also on the blue list.

Public sector employees are hired after a two-stage process. In the first stage, candidates sit the State Personnel Examination (KPSS) and those who pass are invited to attend an oral examination. According to the daily, those who are not considered appropriate, as determined by the color lists, are eliminated in the second stage.

According to information provided by the candidate to Today’s Zaman, the candidate’s family contacted someone they know to act as a reference in the oral exam. Although the candidate got high grades in the three written examinations for public service, the candidate failed in all three oral exams.

While waiting to sit the other oral exams for the public sector job, the candidate was shocked when he saw the profiling document in the media. Both the candidate and the person whom the candidate presented as a reference were on the red list, according to the report. The candidate felt particularly sorry, because the reference person was profiled by the ministry based on information the candidate had provided. It was the candidate’s birthplace that the ministry’s document cited as the reason for his name being on the red list.

“Although I answered correctly almost all the questions in all oral exams [I attended], those who cannot answer any questions correctly pass, [while I was eliminated],” the candidate said.

The candidate plans to sue the ministry over the issue but will wait to see how he fares in the remaining two oral exams. If the candidate is also eliminated in these two, the candidate will bring the issue to court.

Taraf reports indicated that candidates were categorized with notes such as “registered in Diyarbakır,” a mainly Kurdish province, or “father’s name is Ali Haydar,” apparently based on the assumption that the candidate is Alevi.

Source: Todays Zaman , February 21, 2014


Related News

Scapegoating: Turkish PM again blames Gülen movement for worsening economy

As the Turkish lira plunged even further on Friday, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım claimed the Gülen movement was responsible for the deterioration in the country’s economic outlook. According to Yıldırım, “separatists” and sympathizers of the Gülen movement are working hard to ruin the Turkish economy in the eyes of the world.

In A Letter, A Jailed Woman Reveals Abuse And Ill-Treatment In Turkish Prison

A letter by a jailed Turkish woman who wrote to her aunt from Konya prison revealed the ill-treatment of detainees who were subjected to abuse, inhuman and cruel treatment in Turkey’s detentions and prisons.

Cabinet bans charity Kimse Yok Mu from collecting donations

The Taraf daily ran a story arguing that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government planned to remove Kimse Yok Mu’s public interest status, which would prevent it from collecting donations. The report argued that the proposal was pending with the Cabinet, expecting it to take effect before the Eid al-Adha holiday.

Fethullah Gulen’s Message on New Defamation Efforts by Erdogan Regime

I also condemn President Erdogan’s reckless and immoral efforts to defame this peaceful movement that has dedicated itself to universal humanitarian values. I trust in the wisdom and fairness of world leaders to recognize this defamation campaign for what it is.

Nubuwwat symposium starts with rejection of suicide bombing, terrorism

A three-day international symposium launched on Sunday in İstanbul with the theme of nubuwwat (prophethood) has started with a message that a true believer of Islam cannot become a suicide bomber. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 10th edition of the symposium focusing on the teachings of prominent Islamic scholar Bediüzzaman Said Nursi, Deputy […]

Dr. Jill Carroll speaks on Fethullah Gulen and The Gulen Movement

Dr. Jill Carroll, author of the book A Dialogue of Civilizations: Gülen’s Islamic Ideals and Humanistic Discourse, speaks at the lecture and book signing event in Chicago at Niagara Foundation. Dr. Carroll talks about the components that lead her to write the book and provides valuable insight on its context and content. Fethullah Gulen is […]

Latest News

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

European Parliament calls for fair trial of suspects arrested in anti-coup operations in Turkey

Clifton Mayor Anzaldi receives Diversity Award

Bank Asya mandates Goldman for strategic partnership

Kenyan president hails Gülen-inspired schools in his country

Turkey requests extradition of Fethullah Gülen but not for coup attempt, says US

Fethullah Gulen: Turkey’s Eroding Democracy (op-ed in NY Times)

The Gülen movement: advocators of interfaith activities in Turkey

Copyright 2024 Hizmet News