Arınç's Remarks Suggest July 22 Operation Was Arbitrary

Following the controversial operation on high-ranking police officers which was launched on July 22 as part of a government-backed investigation against the faith-based Hizmet movement, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç made a statement in which he said: “We cannot ignore what was done to the government [in reference to the graft scandal].

Some truths should be revealed. Some people who nested in some places should abandon such practices. They [those detained] should ask for forgiveness. No government or state would allow a “parallel state” to exist, working against it.” Commentators stated that Arınç's remarks point to a violation of the rule of law and are a sign that the July 22 operation was arbitrary. Arınç also said that his heart is aching because he knows both parties of the operation -- the detainees and those who detained them -- well.

Bugün daily columnist Nuh Gönültaş wrote in his Friday column that claiming to know both sides, Arınç must know neither of them, speaking this way. “Furthermore, I think he doesn't even know himself anymore these days,” Gönültaş said. According to Gönültaş, what Arınç said indeed meant: “Admit that you are guilty, kneel before us and ask for forgiveness. Then we will abandon the illegal proceedings that we are carrying out against you.” Arınç's remarks were a sort of admission of the unlawful practices and heartlessness of the government, Gönültaş commented. “So all the persecution by the government is actually aimed at making people kneel down and apologize?” he asked. The columnist also added that he previously thought Arınç was a compassionate person and a just politician, but now he understands that he is no different than Prime Minister Erdoğan, who, according to Gönültaş, wants to see everyone kneel down before him.

Umur Talu, a columnist with the Habertürk daily, wrote on Friday that Arınç clarified a long-standing approach to law in Turkey with his statement. According to Talu, this approach shows us that “justice is a sort of trade, a business, and the company owner dominates in such a business.” With regard to Arınç's remarks about “no peace being on the horizon,” Talu said: “What does it mean to have peace or war between a ruling party and a faith-based movement [in reference to the Hizmet movement]? Will the courts act based on this? Aren't they supposed to be independent?” As for Arınç's claim that members of some groups have nested in some positions in state bodies, Talu suggested that it doesn't make any sense because the police chiefs detained on Tuesday must have been assigned by government order during its 12-year rule. Talu also criticized Arınç for calling on the suspects to ask for forgiveness, saying: “Does Turkey have rule of law or not? If there is a crime, amnesty can only be issued by Parliament. The government cannot forgive or punish depending on whether someone begs for forgiveness.”

GÜNAY HİLAL AYGÜN (Cihan/Today's Zaman)