The confusion resulted from a decision to reappoint Celal Eroğlu, the former headman, following his removal from office by the Supreme Election Board (YSK) after he was found guilty of embezzlement.
The Konya regional administrative court decided in July 2011 to give Eroğlu his job back after he appealed his removal. Eroğlu had previously applied to the Ankara Administrative Court to appeal the decision against his removal but was denied.
Upon hearing the decision by the court in Konya, the Çiftlik administrative office met and Eroğlu was reinstated. However, after Eroğlu was removed by the YSK, he was replaced by another headman, Murat Çiftçi.
No decision has yet to be made about Çiftçi, who in the eyes of the YSK is still the headman, which has left many villagers confused.
“We don't know who to go to even for simple procedures,” one villager said, adding that the local inhabitants hope the authorities will sort out the confusion soon.
The administrative office cannot remove Çiftçi from his job because the YSK is superior, but he has been notified to return the official village headman seal back to Eroğlu. However, Çiftçi refuses to obey this order, saying that he deserves the position because he was lawfully elected to the post.
