SHAME ON YOU! A Hand Stretched to a Teacher is a Blow to Our Future!

Turkish Education Union President Talip Geylan rebelled against the release of the parent who assaulted the teacher in Sapanca: "The Release of the Perpetrators of the Dastardly Attack is Unacceptable!"

September 26, 2025 - Ankara - Turkey has been shaken by an ugly incident of violence in Sapanca district of Sakarya that has deeply shaken the education community. A teacher working at Sapanca Anatolian High School was physically attacked by a parent of a student and his friend. After this grave incident experienced by the devoted educator whose burn was broken as a result of the attack, the attacker student's parent was released after the prosecutor's interrogation, which became the focus of reactions.

Turkish Education Union President Talip Geylan reacted strongly to this situation and stated that there is a serious weakness in the execution of justice. In his public statement, the President said, "The beating of a teacher at Sapanca Anatolian High School by a student's parent together with his friend caused great outrage. While the nose of our teacher who was attacked was broken, the parent of the student was released after the prosecutor's interrogation. This situation is so painful and unacceptable that it can be summarized with the words DAMN SHAME ON YOU!," he said.

Protecting Teacher Reputation is Essential!

Geylan underlined that violence against educators is a threat not only to an individual but to the whole society and the future. "As Turkish Education Union, we condemn this violence with hate. Violence against our educators bleeds the common conscience of the society and damages the sense of justice. We always say: The value we give to our teachers is actually a reflection of the value we give to our students, who are our future. At this point, it is essential to protect the reputation of the teacher," he said.

Emphasis on Deterrence in Criminal Execution: Provisions of the Profession Law Should Apply

General President Talip Geylan stated that the impunity of such incidents invites new cases of violence and emphasized that legal regulations should be implemented urgently and effectively. He drew attention to the need to implement highly deterrent legal sanctions against violence against teachers without wasting time.

Geylan emphasized the importance of the regulations in the Teaching Profession Law, which will play a key role in preventing violence:

• Increase penalties by 50%: Increasing penalties by half for crimes against teachers.

• Prevention of Pre-trial Detention: Pre-trial detention of the perpetrator of violence.

• Penalization: Mandatory imprisonment for such crimes.

• No Postponement of Prison Sentences: Ensuring that prison sentences are not postponed in any way and are executed.

Talip Geylan concluded his words by saying, "In this context, it is unacceptable that the individuals who carried out the dastardly attack were released! The hand extended to the teacher is a blow not only to one person, but to the entire education community and most importantly to the future of Turkey". Türk Eğitim Sen announced to the public that it will continue to be a close follower of the legal process and the issue until the attackers receive the punishment they deserve.