Hayri Kozakçıoğlu

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.

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(2013-05-23) (aged 74–75) 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

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.

A region known as the OHAL region[5] was established in 1987 in Southeastern Anatolia, which at the beginning included eight provinces such as Bingöl, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Hakkari, Mardin, Siirt, Tunceli and Van. Kozakçıoğlu became the first regional governor, appointed by President Turgut Özal. Called "super governor" (Turkish: Süper vali), he took office on 19 July 1987.[2][6][7]

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

On March 12, 1995, an attack on a cafe in the mainly by Alevi inhabited Gazi neighborhood in Istanbul resulted in the death of one person and twenty five people were wounded.[8][9] This assault triggered riots in the Gazi Quarter that lasted for several days. People took to the streets and the police and Gendarmerie surrounded the neighborhood. More than 20 people died as the police shot at the crowds.[9] Kozakçıoğlu imposed martial law over the locations in unrest for three days.

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.[6] He was reelected a second time as deputy of Istanbul into the parliament after the 1999 general elections held on April 18.[10]

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][6][11]

Honor

A vocational high school in Kağıthane, Istanbul is named after him.[12][13]

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.[6][14]

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".[6][14]

He and his family members were repeatedly the subject of scandal news coverage. His spouse and daughters were criticized for living in over-proportional standards. His son was accused of sexual harassment by a model.[6][11]

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.[15] On May 25, he was buried at the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery following the religious funeral at Teşvikiye Mosque[16]

References

1. "Hayri Kozakçıoğlu" (in Turkish). Alaşehir Kaymakamlığı. Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
2. "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. Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
5. Jongerden, Joost (2007). The Settlement Issue in Turkey and the Kurds. Brill. p. 141. ISBN 978-90-47-42011-8.
6. "Ona göre hepsi komplo". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2012-02-19.
7. Mekhon Shiloaḥ le-ḥeḳer ha-Mizraḥ ha-tikhon ṿe-Afriḳah (1989). Middle East contemporary survey. 11. p. 710. ISBN 9780813309255.
8. Unver, Hamid Akin (2015-05-22). Turkey's Kurdish Question: Discourse & Politics Since 1990. Routledge. p. 138. ISBN 9781317511335.
9. Mater, N. (2016-03-23). Voices from the Front: Turkish Soldiers on the War with the Kurdish Guerrillas. Springer. p. 165. ISBN 9781403981882.
10. "1999 Genel Seçimleri" (in Turkish). Konrad. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
11. "1.4 trilyonluk villa bilmecesi". Sabah (in Turkish). 2000-12-19. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
12. "Okulumuz Hakkında" (in Turkish). İstanbul Valiliği-Kağıthane Vali Hayri Hozakçıoğlu Ticaret Meslek Lisesi. Archived from the original on 2012-02-21. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
13. "İstanbul Vali Hayri Kozakçıoğlu Ticaret Meslek Lisesi". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2012-02-19.
14. Atar, Tolga (2001-01-07). "Kozakçıoğlu'na şok". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 2012-02-19.
15. "Turkey's former state of emergency regional governor found dead". Hürriyet Daily News. 2013-05-23. Retrieved 2013-05-23.
16. "Meral Kozakçıoğlu: 'Cennette buluşacağımız günü bekliyorum'". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2013-05-25.