Officials abandon probe into photos depicting teachers drinking rakı

ISTANBUL

DHA Photo

Authorities have abandoned an investigation into 11 high school teachers who posted Facebook photos of themselves drinking rakı during a summer picnic with their families 2.5 years ago, daily Hürriyet has reported.

Islamist daily, which is known for provocative and frequently incorrect news, recently ran a story about the teachers under the headline “Immorality at high school,” prompting a probe from the Education Ministry.

But a statement from educational authorities said they were would be no official investigation because the photo of the teachers, all of whom are from a high school in the southern province of Antalya, was not taken during a school-related event but was instead taken during a family picnic, according to daily Hürriyet.

The teachers in question, however, were initially questioned by educations authorities as “suspects” for holding glasses of rakı, while the others in the picture were questioned as witnesses, according to reports.

The teachers are said to be preparing to file a lawsuit over the incident.