Hayri Kozakçıoğlu

Hayri Kozakçıoğlu
15th Governor of İstanbul
In office
August 19, 1991  November 1, 1995
Preceded by B. Cahit Bayar
Succeeded by Rıdvan Yenişen
Regional Governor
In office
July 19, 1987  August 19, 1991
Appointed by President Turgut Özal
Preceded by newly established
Succeeded by Mehmet Necati Çetinkaya
Governor of Diyarbakır Province
In office
January 12, 1987  July 19, 1987
Preceded by Ahmet Elbeyli
Succeeded by Hamdi Ardalı
Governor of Sakarya Province
In office
1983–1987
Preceded by Mehmet Aldan
Succeeded by Nurettin Turan
Governor of Adana Province
In office
1980–1983
Preceded by Metin Dirimtekin
Succeeded by Erdoğan Şahinoğlu
Police Chief of Istanbul Province
In office
July 17, 1978  December 18, 1979
Preceded by Nazmi İyibil
Succeeded by Şükrü Balcı
Governor of Erzurum Province
In office
1978–1978
Preceded by Sadri Turan
Succeeded by Zihni Akın
Personal details
Born 1938
Alaşehir, Manisa, Turkey
Died May 23, 2013 (aged 75)
Sariyer, Istanbul, Turkey
Resting place Zincirlikuyu Cemetery, Istanbul
Nationality Turkish
Political party True Path Party (DYP)
Children daughters: Faika (Alan), Meral (Özekici), son: Ferhan
Residence Istanbul
Alma mater Ankara University
Profession Civil servant

Hayri Kozakçıoğlu (1938 - May 23, 2013) was a Turkish high-ranking civil servant and politician. He served as district governor, police chief, province governor in various administrative divisions. He was known as the first regional governor in the state of emergency ("OHAL") imposed in the provinces of Southeastern Anatolia and governor of Istanbul Province. He was found dead on May 23, 2013 in his house at Sarıyer, Istanbul.

Early life and career

Hayri Kozakçıoğlu was born in 1938 to Ahmet and his spouse Lütfiye in Alaşehir, Manisa Province.[1]

After completing his primary education in Alaşehir, Kozakçıoğlu attended Atatürk High School in Izmir, finishing in 1955. He was educated then in political science at Ankara University between 1955-1959.[2]

Following his graduation in 1959, he entered state service in the Ministry of the Interior, becoming a candidate district governor. Kozakçıoğlu served later as district governor (Turkish: Kaymakam) in Çamlıhemşin, Ardeşen, Delice, Çüngüş, Çınar, Kepsut and Gökçeada (Imbros).[2]

In 1970, he was promoted to the post of an inspector at the ministry, and became later chief inspector.[2]

After receiving special training by Scotland Yard in security matters,[3] he was appointed in 1978 governor (Turkish: Vali) of Erzurum Province. His next post was the office of police chief in Istanbul Province for the period July 17, 1978 – December 18, 1979.[2][4]

Kozakçıoğlu served as governor for three years in Adana Province and then for three and half years in Sakarya Province. On January 12, 1987, he was appointed governor of Diyarbakır Province.

With the imposing state of emergency in 1987 over the region of Southeastern Anatolia, which comprised in the beginning eight provinces such as Bingöl, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Hakkari, Mardin, Siirt, Tunceli and Van, Kozakçıoğlu became the first reigonal governor, appointed by President Turgut Özal. Called "super governor" (Turkish: Süper vali), he took office on July 19, 1987.[2][5][6]

Kozakçıoğlu was appointed on August 19, 1991 governor of Istanbul Province, the most populated administrative division in Turkey.[2]

On March 12, 1995, a provocative gunned attack in Gazi Quarter in Istanbul resulted in the death of an Alevi religious leader and injury of 25 people. This assault triggered riots in the Gazi Quarter that lasted four days long, and spread over to a neighborhood in Ümraniye in the Anatolian part of Istanbul. Kozakçıoğlu imposed martial law over the locations in unrest for three days.[7]

At this post, he served until his resignation on November 1, 1995 to enter politics.[2]

Politics

After his retirement from the state service, Kozakçıoğlu joined True Path Party (DYP), and was elected to the parliament as a deputy of Istanbul following the 1995 general elections held on December 24. At the party, he served as the deputy chairman.[5] He was reelected a second time as deputy of Istanbul into the parliament after the 1999 general elections held on April 18.[8]

Family life

Kozakçıoğlu married in 1959 to Sabire. The couple has two daughters Faika (Alan, married 1992), Meral (Özekici, married 1999) and a son Ferhan.[2][5][9]

Honor

A vocational high school in Kağıthane, Istanbul is named after him.[10][11]

Scandals

According to a news published in September 1993 by the Turkish media, Hayri Kozakçıoğlu was accused of having peculated by transferring 2 billion Turkish Lira (approx. $250,000) of the funds provided by the United Nations from the regional governor's account to his private account, at the time he was the regional governor. He claimed that he did transfer the money on August 12, 1991 with the approval of Interior Minister Mustafa Kalemli, and he paid the amount back on January 18, 1993 upon the regional governor's request. However, Minister Kalemli stated that he had had no knowledge about this transaction.[5][12]

Prime minister Tansu Çiller demanded Hayri Kozakçıoğlu's resignation. President Süleyman Demirel declared that "the funds were dedicated for discretionary spending in fight against terror. To disclose for what reason the funds were spent, might bring the state in difficulties".[5][12]

He and his family members were repeatedly the subject of scandal news coverage. His spouse and daughters were criticizied for living in over-proportional standards. His son was accused of sexual harassment by a model.[5][9]

Death

In the early morning of May 23, 2013, Kozakçıoğlu was found dead in his villa at Reşitpaşa neighborhood of Sariyer, Istanbul. He was shot at close range in the left side of his chest, and the gun was found next to him. An official autopsy will clarify whether it was suicide. He was survived by his wife Sabire, two daughters, Faika, Prof. Dr. Meral Kozakçıoğlu Özekici and son Ferhan.[13] On May 25, he was buried at the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery following the religious funeral at Teşvikiye Mosque[14]

References

  1. "Hayri Kozakçıoğlu" (in Turkish). Alaşehir Kaymakamlığı. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Hayri Kozakçıoğlu" (in Turkish). İstanbul Valiliği. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  3. Çelik, Serdar (1995-02-24). "Turkey's Killing Machine: The Contra-Guerrilla Force". Hartford. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  4. "Emniyet Müdürlerimiz" (in Turkish). İstanbul Polisi. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ona göre hepsi komplo". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  6. Mekhon Shiloaḥ le-ḥeḳer ha-Mizraḥ ha-tikhon ṿe-Afriḳah (1989). Middle East contemporary survey 11. p. 710.
  7. "14 Years and No Justice in Gazi Massacre". Bianet. 2009-03-11. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  8. "1999 Genel Seçimleri" (in Turkish). Konrad. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  9. 1 2 "1.4 trilyonluk villa bilmecesi". Sabah (in Turkish). 2000-12-19. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  10. "Okulumuz Hakkında" (in Turkish). İstanbul Valiliği-Kağıthane Vali Hayri Hozakçıoğlu Ticaret Meslek Lisesi. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  11. "İstanbul Vali Hayri Kozakçıoğlu Ticaret Meslek Lisesi". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  12. 1 2 Atar, Tolga (2001-01-07). "Kozakçıoğlu’na şok". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  13. "Turkey's former state of emergency regional governor found dead". Hürriyet Daily News. 2013-05-23. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
  14. "Meral Kozakçıoğlu: 'Cennette buluşacağımız günü bekliyorum'". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2013-05-25.
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