A documentary about the impact and consequences of the closure of corruption probes that led to the arrest of the sons of high-ranking members of the government in December 2013 and the deterioration of the Turkish police in the 10 years that followed premiered on YouTube on Wednesday.
The documentary, titled “Siren”and directed by Turkish journalist and editor Adem Seneman, was released by Güvenpark, a YouTube channel operated by exiled Turkish police chiefs. The film explores the significant decline in Turkey’s law enforcement following the December 17, 2013 corruption operations, which implicated government officials and triggered a historic crisis within the police force.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan cracked down on the police and the judiciary in order to survive corruption allegations substantiated by seemingly insurmountable evidence and how his success in purging state institutions paralyzed once-effective checks and balances, turning the country into an “electoral autocracy” from the flawed democracy it once was.
A coup attempt in 2016 added fuel to the fire, and Turkey’s strongman started to run roughshod over opponents as he cracked down on civil society this time as well as completely purging state institutions.
After a failed coup in 2016, more than 35,000 officers were dismissed or faced legal challenges, with many imprisoned or forced into exile. The purge deeply affected the institutions responsible for public safety and justice, leading to increased crime rates and positioning Turkey as a hub for criminal activities, according to the documentary.
The documentary cited the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 2023 report, which highlighted Turkey’s role in the global cocaine trade.
According to UN data, Turkey’s role as a transit country for cocaine has been growing, with the amount of the drug seized in the country increasing sevenfold since 2014.
According to “Global Report on Cocaine 2023,” the cultivation of the coca bush saw an increase of 35 percent globally between 2021 and 2022, while the amount of the drug seized in Turkey increased to a record 2.8 tons in 2021.
Moreover, the documentary also pointed to a rise in the number of children involved in crime, which has doubled in the last decade, raising concerns about the country’s deteriorating law and order situation.
The documentary presents personal accounts of police officers who joined the force with a commitment to serve their nation. Despite their challenging backgrounds, they excelled in combating corruption, organized crime and mafia activities. However, they faced significant obstacles in maintaining their integrity in a corrupt system.
The film also sheds light on the broader implications of the 2013 operations. Allegations of corruption within the government, the lack of justice and rule of law and the involvement of police officers in illegal activities are among the critical issues discussed. It critiques the government’s manipulation of the justice system to cover up corruption and wrongdoing.
The documentary calls for a return to justice, transparency in legal proceedings and accountability.
