Demir became a magnet for criticism when allegations of cheating in the Transition to Higher Education Examination (YGS) surfaced after the test -- taken by 1.7 million students -- was held in March. Some claimed the test included a code in the answer sheets that would reveal the correct answer to anyone who knew how to read it properly. An investigation by the Ankara Prosecutor's Office ruled out any unfair practices in the exam, but the allegations and other problems that came up regarding the examination and the calculation of students' scores amounted to a big scandal nevertheless.
Reports said Demir had recently filed a request for a bodyguard with the Ankara Governor's Office, stating concern for his safety. After a preliminary review of his request, both the governor's office and the Ankara Police Department responded in the affirmative to Demir's call on the grounds that his safety is under threat.
An officer from the Ankara Police Department will be assigned to protect Demir at all times, 24 hours a day. Demir will be accompanied by the same officer when he travels to other cities or will be assigned a temporary protection officer in any city he visits.
The development makes Demir the first ÖSYM to have this type of protection.
In a separate but related development, Prosecutor Ferhat Sarıkaya, who was disbarred by a decision of the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) in 2006 after attempting to indict the chief of General Staff of the time but whose position was reinstated earlier this year owing to a constitutional amendment passed in September of last year opening HSYK decisions to appeal, also asked for police protection.
Sarıkaya's application is still under review at the governor's office.
