Turkish soldier kidnapped by ISIL faces disciplinary action for ‘harming reputation of state, army’

ISTANBUL

DHA Photo

Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against a Turkish noncommissioned officer who was kidnapped by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants in January, for “harming the reputation of the state and the army,” daily Milliyet has reported.

Özgür Örs was kidnapped by jihadist militants during an anti-smuggling operation in the southeastern province of Kilis after he crossed to Syria on Jan. 1 and then released on Jan. 5 following an operation by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT).

Following his return, Örs testified to the Kilis Prosecutor’s Office as a victim and was later questioned by a military prosecutor as a part of a probe into the incident.

A notice was subsequently delivered to Örs on Feb. 27 regarding disciplinary proceedings against him, calling on him to prepare his defense against charges.

The notice said the Disciplinary Investigation Committee had determined that Örs had “damaged the reputation of the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Army,” on the grounds that the incident in which he “was kidnapped without resisting by a foreign terrorist organization” had become a “propaganda element” in local, national and international media.