Ertugrul Ozkok: A new album, a new photograph
Güncelleme Tarihi:
The two photos were published practically side by side on the first day of Bayram. One of the photos was of a Turk. His name is Dursun Uyar. The other photo was of an American. His name is Jeffrey Skilling. The American is the former CEO of the by now infamous American company Enron. Skilling has been tried and implicated on charges of altering his company's financial figures to his own benefit. He will be in prison for 25 years now.
The Turk in the photo is the CEO of a Turkish company called YIMPAS.
He was able to collect nearly one billion dollars by tapping into the "religious feelings" of more than 97 thousand Turks living abroad. Then he invested this money in himself. For years, these 97 thousand people have been seeking justice. The German court system, despite the fact that these 97 thousand people were mostly Turkish citizens, issued an order for the arrest of Uyar. So did Switzerland. In fact, these two countries prepared four full files on Uyar, and then requested help from Turkey in capturing him. Yes, two foreign countries are after him.
* * *
But what are Turkey, the Turkish justice system, and the Turkish government doing in reaction to this international robbery?
The German court system is searching out Uyar with Interpol "difusion" documents, which means in effect, they are saying "This man should be handed over to us if found."
Turkey first says though "We don't have anyone like that here."
But when some newspapers revealed that in fact Uyar was active in Turkey, the Turkish system began to intone "That guy is a Turkish citizen. We cannot extradite him to you."
Well, that being the case then, why isn't Turkey punishing him? Since the punishment mechanism doesn't seem to be working, how will those thousands of people ever get justice served? This very question is asked of every Turkish politician who goes to Germany. It's as though we need to ask: Does this thief have no fault in this all?
* * *
And to you people who make your living through honest ways, you people who hold your religion sacred above all else, you people who have given away all your hard-earned money to thieves like this, and you people who tremble and worry over the image and respect accorded to your country: aren't you made uncomfortable by this all?
Â
* * *
Yes, in the Turkish media, these two photographs were published side by side on the first day of bayram. One, the American, will go to prison for 25 years. The other, the Turk, will have what happen to him? Nothing. He is pictured in fact at a funeral, praying in the same row as four ministers from the government. He is also pictured trading bayram greetings with high ranked members of the Turkish government. The camera captures them kissing eachothers' cheeks, shaking hands. What are they talking about though? Is the topic their "religious bonds"?
There is an extraordinary place in Turkish politics for "family photographs." I am sure that these photographs will one day occupy the place they deserve in the museum of dirty politicians.Â