Still praying for American soldiers?!

On Monday, a group of members from the Turkey Youth Union (TGB) placed a sack over the head of a soldier identified as serving on a U.S. amphibious assault ship docked at the Port of Izmir, prompting police to intervene in the incident.

Following the event, 15 people, including TGB Chairman Kayahan Çetin, were detained.

The Izmir Governor's Office issued the following statement regarding the matter:

"A physical attack was carried out by a group of 15 people, including 2 women, who are members of the Turkey Youth Union (TGB), against 2 U.S. military personnel in civilian clothing. Furthermore, our security forces intervened rapidly in the incident, which 5 other U.S. soldiers in civilian clothing also joined after seeing it from a distance. The 15 suspects who carried out the act were apprehended and detained upon the instructions of the duty public prosecutor. A judicial investigation into the matter has been initiated."

The first statement from the U.S. side came from the Ankara Embassy.

Stating that “U.S. military personnel serving on the USS Wasp were subjected to an attack in Izmir and are currently safe,” the Embassy expressed its “thanks to the Turkish authorities for their rapid response to the incident and for launching an investigation.”

The 15 detained TGB members were referred to the courthouse the day before yesterday. In the end, 10 were arrested, while 5 were released under judicial control conditions.

We Earned the U.S.'s “Appreciation”

During these developments, a voice was also heard from Washington.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that the incident was “disturbing” and a “serious matter,” adding that U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan would likely make a statement on the issue soon, and said, “We appreciate the Turkish police taking the matter seriously and bringing those responsible to justice.”

Pentagon Spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder stated that their soldiers were safe and that the investigation was continuing in coordination with local authorities, before adding, “We are grateful to the Turkish authorities investigating this matter for their support.”

Why Were They Arrested?

What is the reason for the arrest of the TGB members who put a sack over the head of the U.S. soldier?

According to information provided by their lawyer, Bülent Karagöz, they were charged with “depriving a person of their liberty using force, threats, and deception in a chain-like manner against multiple people, together with more than one person.”

Attorney Karagöz rightfully asked and stated the following:

“Were the American soldiers who put sacks over the heads of Turkish officers in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, in 2003, tried in their own country? Or were they tried by any other authority and subjected to any sanctions? You are arresting these young people by saying, ‘Public order is being disrupted, public peace is being disrupted,’ or ‘There are these provisions in the Turkish Penal Code, and they were violated,’ just because they put a sack over the head of an American soldier.”

They Raided Incirlik Base and Injured 12 Police Officers, But...

While the TGB members are experiencing this, let us look at another incident and what actions were taken against the perpetrators of that event.

You may remember; the IHH (Humanitarian Relief Foundation), which organized the Mavi Marmara flotilla to Gaza in 2010—which resulted in the killing of 10 of our people by Israeli soldiers—held a protest at the Incirlik Base in Adana on November 5th to support Palestine, following a call by its President, Bülent Yıldırım.

Let us read what happened during this protest from the prosecutor's investigation file:

“It was stated that the event, organized to support Palestine with people arriving from all provinces in a vehicle convoy, began with the participation of 25 thousand people; while the event was ongoing, a provocative group of approximately 1,500 people within the area knocked down barriers and entered the field onto the police officers waiting by the barriers; they were prevented from advancing by security forces until they reached the edge of the Incirlik Air Base wire fences; subsequently, the same provocative group of approximately 1,500 people again knocked down the barriers on the police officers waiting by the barriers and began running from the Incirlik Air Base gate road toward the Incirlik Air Base; loud warnings were issued to the group, but the individuals in the group resisted the police officers taking precautions by throwing stones, and threw Molotov cocktails and fireworks; the group was intervened with using gas and water cannons (TOMA); some individuals within the group started a fire by burning the grass in the area where the wire fences were located, and the fire was extinguished by intervention with a water cannon; vehicles were damaged during the intervention against the group, and 12 security personnel were injured in various parts of their bodies...”

Who are those who recounted these events and filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office against IHH President Bülent Yıldırım?

37 complainants, including police officers who were harmed during the described events.

Do you know what decision the prosecutor's office made on June 28th, after initiating an investigation into President Bülent Yıldırım regarding these complaints, without even needing to take his statement?

It decided that “there were no grounds for prosecution on behalf of the public.” The justification was explained as follows:

“Although an investigation was initiated upon complaint against the suspect; when the entire scope of the file is evaluated together, it is understood that suspect Bülent Yıldırım is the President of the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, that the event organized to support Palestine was recorded by security forces, that the camera footage was analyzed, and that there is no evidence that the suspect incited, aided, or participated in the group of approximately 1,500 people who engaged in provocative actions; as such, it is understood that there is no concrete, definitive, and convincing evidence beyond any doubt that the suspect committed the alleged crime, other than abstract allegations...”

“These Attacks Were Made on a Turkish Base, Not a U.S. Base”

A notable name was among those who filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor's office regarding this protest organized by the IHH at Incirlik Base.

This name was retired Colonel Orkun Özeller, who in 2017, while serving at Incirlik Base, rejected a medal given by the U.S., saying, “You are in cooperation with my enemy, the YPG.”

The reason for Özeller's criminal complaint on November 13th concerned both Bülent Yıldırım's rhetoric regarding the protest and the status of Incirlik.

In that criminal complaint, Özeller highlighted the following in summary:

“The protest organized under the leadership of the IHH Foundation, both the attempt to enter a Turkish military facility through force and violence, and the attacks carried out during the actions by throwing stones, bottles, and fireworks at the facility, make it necessary to initiate an investigation into the crime of destroying military facilities. Similarly, the fact that protesters, led by IHH President Bülent Yıldırım, attacked a Turkish base, clashed with police, and used religious values that encompass all of Turkish society in a divisive and exclusionary manner during the attack, poses great dangers in terms of public order and social unity. Actions aimed at polarizing society over various values and the creation of a state of conflict with Turkish security forces as a result of these actions undoubtedly lead to the establishment of the crime of inciting the public to hatred and hostility. Incirlik Turkish Air Base, which is established by law to be a Turkish base, was portrayed as an American base through the IHH Foundation and its President; the public was mobilized in a way that would operate against a Turkish base with harmful operational propositions deliberately built upon misleading information.”

However, as we reported above, the Prosecutor's Office issued a decision of non-prosecution (KYOK) on June 28th regarding all criminal complaints filed.

Retired Colonel Orkun Özeller, who objected to this decision with a petition he sent to the Adana Criminal Court of Peace in recent days, stated that the issues he mentioned in his criminal complaint—such as “destroying military facilities, inciting the public to hatred and hostility or insulting them, and publicly spreading misleading information to the public”—were not addressed in the Prosecutor's Office's non-prosecution decision, and that no evidence was collected regarding them. While requesting that the non-prosecution decision be lifted and an indictment be prepared to open a case, he made the following findings:

“A demonstration that aimed to protest Israel and the U.S. and served seemingly legitimate purposes was carried out by targeting Incirlik Base, which is essentially a Turkish base. During the attack, both Turkish security forces and public property were damaged. The purpose for which Bülent Yıldırım organized such an action against a Turkish base, and whether the scope of the demonstration permitted by the Governor's Office included the Turkish base in question, were not addressed in the non-prosecution decision. The non-prosecution decision mentioned the existence of a provocative group of 1,500 people. As we stated in our complaint petition, all groups, including those waving Hizb ut-Tahrir flags, arrived in the region accompanied by Bülent Yıldırım's convoy. This fact is proven by the evidence presented in our complaint petition. These issues were not evaluated in the non-prosecution decision; the relationship or connection of the 1,500-person group with IHH President Bülent Yıldırım was not addressed. The investigation, which was completed without identifying the 1,500-person group and without clarifying the connections and links of the people who carried out these actions, is incomplete.”

In short; one standard for the TGB members, another for the IHH...

When America put sacks over the heads of our soldiers in 2003, we couldn't even issue a “diplomatic note,” let alone ensure they were tried...

But look, the TGB members were arrested because they put a sack over the head of an American soldier. Not only was the U.S. not given the opportunity to issue a note, but they also received “appreciation” on top of it!..

In 2003, when the U.S. invaded Iraq, our leaders said they were “praying for the brave young men and women of the U.S. military to return home safely.”

It seems the prayers for U.S. soldiers continue!..