A system where the rule of law is replaced by political interests threatens not only justice but also societal peace. The collapse of justice in Turkey signifies the collapse of society. In a country where the justice system is broken, and the guilty and innocent are arbitrarily switched, not just individuals but the entire society suffers. When the power of the ruling authorities is used arbitrarily to determine guilt and crime, justice gives way to chaos, and inevitable polarization starts within the society. In such a distorted system, where true criminals roam freely and innocent people are punished, the future of the country is dragged into darkness.
To understand how a system that protects criminals and punishes the innocent leads society into chaos, we need only look at recent events. Two days ago in Istanbul, a murderer savagely killed two young women, Ä°kbal Uzuner and AyÅŸenur Halil, within half an hour. Despite being repeatedly reported, no action was taken against the killer. Shortly before this, a young police officer, Åžeyda Yılmaz, was shot and killed by a person with 26 previous criminal records. These tragic events clearly reveal how real criminals are overlooked. What’s even more alarming is how such atrocities are becoming ‘normal’ within society.
Unfortunately, our justice system does not only reveal its flaws in these large tragedies but in various distorted ways every day. The police operation conducted in Istanbul on May 7th is a bitter example of this distortion. Young women, including girls aged between 12 and 17, were arrested under “terror” charges without any concrete evidence. Activities like studying, receiving religious education, and participating in social events were labeled as “crimes.” The painful reality is that such innocent activities were deemed a “threat” in the case of these girls, while real criminals are free to walk the streets.
Law has become a weapon in the hands of the regime
The connection between these two events shows clearly how the law has turned into a weapon, and how dangerous it is for the ruling authority to arbitrarily define the concept of guilt. On one hand, there is a justice system unable to protect innocent girls under threat; on the other, a system that imprisons innocent children under the false accusation of being “terrorists.” This system builds a dangerous societal structure where innocence is portrayed as guilt, and real criminals roam free. This arrangement threatens not only its immediate victims but also the entire society and the future of the country.
To see how justice has been turned into a political weapon and how such a system emboldens real criminals while victimizing the innocent, it’s enough to look at Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya’s posts on the X platform. He describes police raids on innocent people, such as the May 7th operation, as a “great success” and praises the police involved, honoring them with prayers and congratulations. However, when faced with a brutal murder that everyone saw coming, Yerlikaya merely offers condolences.
Injustice emboldens criminals
On one side, real criminals commit murders in broad daylight, and the response is limited to tough statements while the criminals walk free. Concrete security is needed in society, yet we only hear empty challenges like “We won’t let them breathe!” On the other side, the police proudly film and share their raids against innocent students. This disproportionate use of force against the innocent is a clear illustration of the distorted justice system.
The difference between these two events is the most obvious proof of how the ruling authorities arbitrarily and politically define the concepts of crime and criminality.
The brutal murders in Istanbul and the case of the girls clearly show how justice has been weaponized in Turkey and how it is directed by the interests of those in power. In a system where real criminals remain unpunished, and innocent people are branded as terrorists, societal peace is under threat. The continuation of this distorted understanding means the complete collapse of justice in Turkey. In a system where criminals are emboldened and the innocent are punished, it is impossible to achieve social peace and security.
Faced with this reality, our duty is not to remain silent but to strive to build a justice system where the guilty are punished, and the innocent are not harmed.
