Ari Hergel, guitar instructor at İSMEK who has been removed from his position as a part of the recent purge related to the Turkish coup attempt. (Source: Agos)

ISTANBUL (Agos)—As part of the purge that began after the coup attempt, Ari Hergel, a guitar teacher in İSMEK (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Art and Vocational Training Courses), has been removed from his position.

Hergel stated that he was informed about his deposition through a phone message he received on July 22.

Hergel said that he doesn’t know why he was fired, but according to the message, it was assumed that he has some kind of a relation with Fethullah Gülen, who Erdogan believes is the mastermind behind the putsch.

“I can’t figure out what the grounds of this assumption are; there is no information or document indicating such a relation,” said Hergel.

He said that many others have been fired for the same reason. “When I went to get the original copy of the notice, I came across many co-workers who have received the same notice. People were trying to explain themselves and wrote petitions.”

“The important thing is to clear the aspersions”

Hergel stated that he will take legal action to stop the injustice. “My situation is not as significant compared to the overall injustice that people have been subjected to. I am able to afford my living in the absence of my income from İSMEK. However, there are senior educators, the ones whose only income was from İSMEK, the ones who have only months left for retirement; the situation is more crucial for them. For me, the important thing is to clear the aspersions that are casted upon us and to stop this unjust process if I can.”