Ilhami Keles Teacher, Ministry of National Education
  • Death Date 01/07/2019
  • Place of Death Erzurum
  • Cause of Death Cancer, sadness
  • Date of Burial 02.07.2019, Erzurum

Biography

Ilhami Keles, a teacher expelled from his profession by Decree-Law, passed away due to cancer. Keles was caught cancer as a result of the troubles he experienced and the sadness caused by the `terrorist` labelling. Keles had served in education for years and was on trial for terrorism charges due to his union membership. He was trying to make a living for his family by working in construction because his diploma was revoked. He said to his friend, Yavuz Agiralioglu, Member of Parliament, ‘Brother, I don’t mind working in construction. I can make a living the hard way, but my heart has become unable to handle this slander: treason…’. He got cancer and passed away soon after.
One of the hundreds of thousands of innocent people who encountered the persecution of the Decree-Law was teacher Ilhami Keles. Keles’s death was announced by the Member of Parliament Yavuz Agiralioglu, Deputy Chairman of Iyi Party, whom he stated to be a close friend. In his speech, Agiralioglu told in the assembly hall about his friend who could not cope with the accusation of `terrorism` and died of cancer; “If you say that Allah has blessed a man and he has turned from a human to an angel.. Almighty granted Keles to be a human, not an angel. If an angel were human, Keles would be such a perfect man. Once he has accepted a union invitation together with some of his friends.
Nevertheless, they were labelled him `Gulenist` and dismissed him from his post. For two years, he worked in construction to send money to his children, studying at the university. He worked as a mason, carried stones or carried sand in constructions. We tried to take him under our wing that he wouldn’t be offended. We said that we know who he is; he is innocent and not an enemy of the state. He said he didn’t do anything wrong. We told you don’t do it. He said, ‘Brother, I don’t mind working in construction, I can make a living the hard way, but my heart has become unable to handle this slander: treason…’. He got cancer and passed away. You AKP MPs!! Make up your mind. Do not go into the presence of Allah with the libel and slander you labelled the innocent people. It is enough! Your AKP regime has imprisoned thousands of innocent people; these people will get you by the short and curlies. We will cause ourselves torment in the Hereafter due to this slander and oppression. We won’t be able to look at their faces in Hereafter. As AKP, solve this issue now, and all the votes will be yours”.

 

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