ALBAWABA — A history teacher in southern Turkey has been officially cleared of mental illness and returned to her school after spending 16 days in a psychiatric hospital, following a high-profile legal battle triggered by a large donation of her assets.
Nevin Fırıncıoğlu (51) was welcomed back by her students on Friday, marking the end of an ordeal that drew widespread public attention and sympathy across Turkey. She had been hospitalized at Dr. Ekrem Tok Mental Health and Diseases Hospital in Adana on December 30, after a court ordered psychiatric monitoring.
Family Feud Over Property Sparked Legal Action
The case began when Nevin decided to donate all her assets, including two houses (one in Adana and another in Silifke, Mersin), two cars, and her bank account holding around 2 million Turkish lira (~$47,000), to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) following a dispute with her 77-year-old father.
Her father filed a guardianship lawsuit, arguing that his daughter was mentally unfit and should be placed under guardianship to control her assets.Following her contribution, the court took action, freezing her assets and mandating a psychiatric assessment, citing concerns of psychosis.
Medical Review Deems Her Mentally Sound
After weeks of evaluation, a medical panel determined Nevin was mentally fit and fully capable of handling her own affairs. Consequently, she was released on January 14th and promptly resumed her teaching responsibilities.
Speaking to Turkish media, Nevin characterized the ordeal as both painful and distressing, particularly because it arose from a family dispute. She highlighted the difficulties of her hospital stay but expressed immense joy at being back with her students and colleagues.
Public Reaction and Social Media Support
The case sparked a firestorm of discussion on Turkish social media, with numerous users rallying behind Nevin and condemning the guardianship effort and the initial psychiatric assessment. Some even went so far as to challenge the qualifications of the doctor who conducted the first evaluation.
A widely circulated social media post pointed out that Nevin seemed mentally sound, especially when compared to others in the country, and urged authorities to look into the doctor responsible for the earlier diagnosis. Demands to reverse the guardianship claim quickly gained momentum across various Turkish platforms.
