04.06.2026 13:00
The Ministry of National Defense (MSB) has taken action following allegations that a general in the Turkish Armed Forces assaulted a non-commissioned officer due to being disturbed by the sound of their vehicle. Announcing that permission for an official investigation into the scandalous claim has been granted, the MSB emphasized that disciplinary violations will not be tolerated, stating, "Regardless of rank or position, what is necessary will be done."
In a barracks in our eastern provinces, following allegations that a brigadier general, disturbed by vehicle noise from the garage, assaulted and insulted a master sergeant, the Ministry of National Defense (MSB) took action.
MASTER SERGEANT ASSAULTED OVER "VEHICLE NOISE"
According to allegations, the incident occurred at a brigade command in the east. Disturbed by engine sounds from the military garage near his office, the brigade commander approached the master sergeant who had started the vehicle and hurled insults such as "Retard, idiot. Didn't I say not to start the car?" It was claimed that the general, unable to control his anger, grabbed the master sergeant by the throat and slapped him repeatedly.
MSB: NECESSARY ACTION WILL BE TAKEN REGARDLESS OF RANK AND POSITION
Following these allegations, which caused a stir in the public agenda, the Ministry of National Defense clarified the issue during its weekly briefing. Confirming the incident and stating that the legal process has begun, the MSB used the following statements:
"Permission for investigation regarding the said incident has been granted by our Ministry. In the Turkish Armed Forces, whoever acts against discipline and laws, regardless of their rank and position, the necessary action will be taken."
WHAT HAPPENED?
Cahit Koca, President of the Turkish Retired Non-Commissioned Officers Association, made a statement regarding the allegation that a master sergeant was subjected to violence, insults, and threats at his unit. In his statement on social media, Koca said:
"It is absolutely unacceptable that our non-commissioned officers, the backbone of the TSK and the honorable and devoted members of our army, are subjected to violence, insults, and threats by those in 'superior' positions in the barracks where they serve. Today, I have to share with the public an incident that is incompatible with our army's understanding of discipline and disregards human dignity, along with the subsequent injustices. In a brigade in our eastern region, a colleague master sergeant, for starting a vehicle, was insulted with ugly words like 'retard' and 'idiot' by the brigade commander, his throat was squeezed, and he was slapped. Moreover, this incident is confirmed by camera recordings, and our colleague has documented this with an assault report. We ask: Since when has the command position, which should protect our non-commissioned officers in the barracks, become a center of violence? Even more severe is the intimidation process that began when our colleague sought his rights.
When our colleague stated he would take the matter to court, he was threatened by the brigade commander with words like 'if you go to the prosecutor, I will complain to the chief prosecutor's office.' Then, a corps commander and a brigade commander going to the chief prosecutor's office together gives the impression that pressure is being exerted on the legal mechanism. Even more striking is that sharing this situation with a lawyer was described as 'not being discreet,' and a penalty was imposed for giving power of attorney to the lawyer. Trying to punish a soldier who consulted a lawyer to defend his rights on the grounds of 'meeting with an unauthorized person' is contrary to universal legal principles and reason. How can a lawyer be seen as an 'unauthorized person'? This mentality is an effort to prevent the non-commissioned officer from accessing justice. Although the Ministry of National Defense has granted permission for an investigation into the assault, given the camera recordings, it has not permitted an investigation into crimes as serious as insult and threat, using the excuse of 'insufficient evidence.'
While the provisions of the Military Penal Code and the Turkish Penal Code are clear, we do not accept blocking the investigation of these actions by a commander of general status. As TEMAD, we emphasize: Justice is not limited by hierarchy. No position or office gives the right to apply violence to or threaten our non-commissioned officers. Punishing our non-commissioned officer who seeks his rights is a repressive method, and this mistake must be corrected immediately. We have full faith that the Council of State will say 'stop' to this injustice and pave the way for the crimes of insult and threat to be brought before the judiciary.
We are people who know best the discipline and hierarchy of our army and have dedicated our lives to this discipline. However, discipline is never about assaulting, humiliating, or depriving a subordinate of the freedom to seek his rights. We will follow this case to the end. I present to the knowledge of the public that our colleagues are not unbacked, and we will defend their rights before the law to the fullest extent."