Turkish women launch petition to join Police Special Operations Department

ANKARA

More than 41,000 people have signed a petition demanding the inclusion of women in the Police Special Operations Department (PÖH). 

The move came amid expectations that the General Directorate of Security will shortly announce the requirements for PÖH personnel recruitment, the private broadcaster CNN Türk announced on Jan. 31.

A total of 41,305 have accordingly signed an online petition demanding a change of criteria in the employment process. Their proposed changes include raising the upper age limit, allowing entry with only a high school diploma and providing a quota reserved for women.

Messages posted on the General Directorate of Security’s social media accounts include thousands of women demanding to join the PÖH.

“Dear statesmen, we have collected 41,305 signatures regarding some of the criteria of the 22nd-term PÖH recruitments,” said one post on the General Directorate of Security’s Instagram account.