Nowadays, as I follow the developments in the Ergenekon case, I frequently remember that sculpture. When I hear the debates about the scope of freedom of expression I cannot rid myself of that very same cynical grin I had when I saw that statue. Some people in this country who would never have dared say something or, worse, endorse freedom of expression for intellectuals, Kurds, minorities, university students or workers, are now claiming that calling for a coup should be protected as free speech. They are asking in a very naïve manner what is wrong if people came together and planned a coup. They were not successful, these people suggest, and they did not have the capacity for it, so what is the problem?
It was very sad to hear the claims that so-called "hero" Aldürkerim Kırca committed suicide because of former informant and JİTEM member Abdülkadir Aygan's "defamation" of his reputation. The people who make this claim are forgetting two things: First, many people in this country have been convicted because of the testimony of informants. Secondly, despite several appeals and efforts, the court cases against Kırca have been prevented in the military courts.
It is also very interesting to hear that the Ankara and Istanbul bar associations are only concerned about the health problems of Ergenekon suspects. Both of them issued statements about the transfer of retired Gen. Hurşit Tolon, an Ergenekon suspect, to a military hospital. They claimed that everyone has a right to medical treatment and to choose the hospital and doctor. The same associations do not say anything or issue any statements regarding the many other inmates whose health conditions are critical, such as Erol Zavar, who is being held at Sincan Prison and has been operated on 16 times, with most of his organs not functioning properly. They did not mention Gazi Dağ, a paralyzed prisoner in Antalya who is unable to use the toilet on his own because he is unable to walk. His brother visits him three times a day to help him with personal hygiene.
Here comes the crucial point: Even the Saddam statue, which symbolized justice, was blindfolded -- indicating that everyone is equal before the law. But in Turkey this is obviously not the case for some people. According to some very important persons, some citizens are more valuable than others; their freedom of expression is more important than, for example, that of Hrant Dink. The health condition of some inmates, such as Tolon, is more valuable than that of Zavar.
Democracy is a culture that can develop over time and we have a very long way to go. First we have to finish the Ergenekon investigation, and then we should establish truth and reconciliation commissions in order to confront our past, like other countries have. We have to draft a new constitution. We have to introduce restrictions on the mandate of the military courts. We have to change the structure of many institutions, including the Forensic Medicine Council, and school curriculum. All these changes, of course, will not be enough to ensure that no one in this country will ever question the equality of its citizens, especially in the eyes of the law. To reach that point, we will still need time and the transformation of our culture, but it will surely be a hopeful beginning.
Maybe then we can remove all these invisible blindfolded statues still considered symbols of justice and instead of carrying a sword, sit in the true seats of justice.
