Handcuffed Police Figure Goes Viral On Social Media, Becomes Hit

An image of the former head of the İstanbul Police Department cyber crimes unit, Hayati Başdağ, holding his handcuffed hands in the air while being detained has gone viral on social media as a symbol expressing public outrage at the operation for which he was detained.

Başdağ was among over 100 high-ranking police officials who were detained on Tuesday on charges of spying and illegal wiretapping. Başdağ and many other detainees were known to be among those who conducted the Dec. 17 and Dec. 25 corruption operations as part of a probe into government officials and leading businesspeople.

Photographs of handcuffed policemen, including Başdağ, being taken into custody on Tuesday were highly criticized on social media. Some social media users changed their profile pictures to an image showing Başdağ's silhouette holding his handcuffed hands in the air.

As he was being detained, Başdağ is also reported to have shouted, “I haven't taken a haram [wrongfully gained] bite. I haven't been involved in the slightest illegal activity,” a phrase implying he participated in no improper or criminal activities.

In reference to Başdağ's remarks, some social media users have changed their profile names to "I haven't taken a haram bite."

SHOTLIST
TURKEY, ISTANBUL, 23 JULY 2014

VAR of families of detained officers gathered in front of the police department
Mustafa Atayün wearing T-Shirt with handcuffed police figure
VAR of the interview with atayün

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