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A group of soldiers on duty in Libya have been expelled from the Turkish military after they filed a complaint against their superiors, reported Deutsche Welle (DW) Turkish.
The 56 non commissioned officers serving under the Libya Mission Group Command of the Turkish Armed Forces filed a collective complaint with the Turkish Presidency Communications Directorate (CIMER), accusing their superiors in command of psychological and physical harassment. The soldiers claimed that they had even been tasked with collecting rubbish waste in the barracks of Libyan soldiers.
A disciplinary inquiry was launched against the officers and they were all consequently expelled from the Turkish Armed Forces. In addition, a criminal investigation has been reported to have been launched against them as well.
According to the report by DW Turkish, the soldiers explained in detail of their complaint and how they’d been treated by their commanding officers. A lieutenant colonel had been claimed to have said during an assembly:
“You don’t deserve the money you’re paid. Even generals have been wiped out easily in the Turkish Armed Forces. You are nothing compared to them. You can complain about me to anyone you want. I’ve worked at the Department of Legal Affairs for nine years. It would take me five minutes to kick you all out of the profession. There are thousands outside who would like to be in your place.”
A senior lieutenant and a squadron commander, had also allegedly said: “I’ll rip off this shoulder mark if I fail in turning this place into a hell for you. I’ll make you spit blood. I’ll make you crawl at the beach like sea turtles.”
One of the complaining officers wrote, “The physical and psychological transgressions here have caused within me a dislike against my profession.”
The 56 soldiers, transferred back to Turkey after their complaint, were all expelled from the Turkish military on 9 December.
The inquiry report had accused the officers for ‘using the same text in coordination and collaboration’, ‘making their complaint with CIMER’, ‘attempting to intimidate their superiors’, and ‘collectively disrupting discipline and the military atmosphere’.
