According to Namık Tan’s claims, Hakan Fidan was accepted to Bilkent for a master’s degree without YÖK equivalence.

"HAKAN FİDAN’S CONFESSION FROM YÖK

“3-year Bachelor’s degree, admission to Master’s degree without equivalence!”

Unfortunately, we were right in our suspicions. Official records show that Hakan Fidan completed only a 3-year undergraduate program that offered distance and even open education, and started his master’s degree at Bilkent University without receiving YÖK equivalence!!!

We submitted a comprehensive parliamentary question to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey approximately 2 months ago, in order to resolve serious public question marks regarding the undergraduate education of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hakan Fidan, the equivalence process and the admission conditions to Bilkent University.

In this parliamentary question, we pointed out that the educational background of those who serve in the highest positions of the state should be clear, leaving no room for doubt, because even the slightest uncertainty is a matter of institutional reputation.

He drew attention to the need to eliminate doubts about the content of the undergraduate education claimed to have been received from an institution that provides distance or even open education, the inconsistencies in the document presented as a diploma, and the criteria by which the Council of Higher Education grants equivalence; We brought the issue to the attention of the executive through the Supreme Assembly to answer all these questions.

An answer was finally given to our question. Although this answer came after months of silence, many of our questions were left unsolved. However, even the limited information shared unfortunately reveals that we are not wrong in our suspicions.

According to the statement of the Council of Higher Education, Mr. Fidan was enrolled in the undergraduate program between 1994-1997, that is, for only 3 years.

Well, while a standard undergraduate education in Türkiye takes 4 years, how can Hakan Fidan’s 3-year undergraduate education be considered equivalent to a full undergraduate diploma?

It remains unclear how many credits the program in question covers, which courses it consists of, and what kind of academic content it is conducted with. However, in our parliamentary question, we specifically requested that the transcript and relevant academic documents be shared with the public in order to clarify these issues.

Considering that Mr. Fidan completed his undergraduate education in only 3 years, disclosing this transcript data is no longer just an administrative choice, but an obligation in terms of public conscience and institutional transparency.

Moreover, it is stated in the response text that Fidan completed his master’s degree at Bilkent University between 1997 and 1999. However, the equivalence certificate issued by YÖK is dated 1998.

This situation clearly shows that Fidan started his master’s degree without obtaining undergraduate equivalence.

What regulation, what privilege could allow such a situation?

The response to our parliamentary question not only proved that our suspicions were justified, but also raised new questions that needed to be answered.
We are faced with an understanding in which privilege is preferred over merit, silence is preferred over transparency.

This issue clearly shows how the principles of merit, equality and transparency have been eroded in the institutional structure of the state.

Foreign Affairs is one of the most established institutions in this country; He derives his power not from privileges; It comes from knowledge, competence and seriousness.

The reputation and survival of the Republic are protected by rules that apply equally to everyone, not by exceptions granted to individuals.

We see this process not as a biography debate, but as a test concerning the legitimacy of the state and public conscience.

We call on Hakan Fidan to take the initiative to eliminate these doubts about his education. We will continue to follow this exemplary issue under all circumstances." Namık Tan