Hessen Official Barred From Ministry Premises Amid Harassment Allegations

Former Hessen State Secretary Umut Sönmez has been prohibited from entering specific areas of the Wiesbaden state ministry following allegations of sexual harassment, according to verified reports from multiple German news outlets. The restriction, implemented to protect the female employee who brought forward the allegations, comes as part of the ongoing fallout from an incident reported to have occurred during a ministry carnival event on February 11, 2026.

The Wiesbaden prosecutor’s office confirmed an active investigation into the allegations against Sönmez, who was subsequently dismissed from his position in the Hessian Ministry of Economics. Multiple sources, including tagesschau.de, hessenschau.de, and taz.de, reported that Sönmez was formally removed from his civil service role effective immediately after allegations surfaced regarding inappropriate conduct during the February 11 ministry event.

According to internal ministry communications referenced in the reports, access restrictions were placed on Sönmez to prevent any potential contact with the accuser while the investigation remains ongoing. The Wiesbaden state prosecutor’s office confirmed to regional media that prosecutorial proceedings are underway, though the principle of presumption of innocence applies until legal conclusions are reached.

The incident has prompted internal reviews within the Hessian state government regarding workplace safety protocols and incident reporting mechanisms. Government officials have emphasized that workplace safety remains a priority, with specific attention to ensuring employees can report concerns without fear of retaliation.

As of the latest reports, the investigation by the Wiesbaden prosecutor’s office remains active, with no public timeline established for when conclusions might be reached. The restriction on ministry premises access represents one of the immediate protective measures implemented while legal processes continue.

This developing situation continues to be monitored by regional and national media outlets in Germany, with particular attention to how governmental bodies handle such allegations and implement protective measures for potential victims during ongoing investigations.