Kurban or Gurban?

If you are a journalist in this country… Well, excuse me… If you are still a journalist, and you are doing this profession not for “click-through rates” but “to inform the public”… How happy for you. It means you are still a human being.

Furkan Karabay… Make a note of this name. Because the name of this colleague of ours has already been recorded in recent history as one of the most fearless pens of the current era. He has been sent to prison for the third time. Last time it was New Year's Eve; this time he was arrested on his birthday. This shows that he is always ready to pay the price for his courage while performing his profession for the public's right to receive information. Paying the price for writing without taking orders from anyone, and for only considering the public interest.

But the issue is not just how many times Furkan has been arrested. The real issue is that he can write, speak, and explain even while he is inside… Writing by exposing the inner workings of relationships. That is why his first book, “Gurban,” is not just a randomly written book. There is neither sensationalism nor cheap populism in its lines… It is a work that contains far too much truth: Gurban… Moreover, the fact that he is a journalist full enough to write a book at such a young age naturally made him a target.

Furkan was arrested on the grounds of the news reports he produced and his YouTube broadcast. His lawyer, Enes Ermaner, defended his client by stating, "The framing of news reports produced for the public interest within the scope of journalistic activity as a crime in response to these political investigations and arrests conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is a disregard for freedom of the press and expression.

It is not a crime for the names of the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor, which are known to everyone, to be mentioned in the news. Just as the activity carried out is journalism, the actions currently being investigated and framed as crimes are also journalism."

Let's come to Furkan's book…

The book titled “Gurban – From the Red Army to Silivri”, although it may look like a businessman's biography, actually describes the dark corridors of politics, mafia-like relationships, money traffic, in other words, the inner workings of our decaying system. Through the story of Mübariz Mansimov, it almost turns into a regime analysis.

Sometimes we go to the dark years of the Red Army with a former intelligence officer, and sometimes we learn the names of politicians who do business with cocaine at the Yalıkavak Marina. The allegations are major, the narrative is simple but striking. Furkan explains everything openly, with documents and witnesses, not by dressing it up. We are faced with the language of a journalist who “exposes” this dirty wheel.

Mansimov's rise, fall, and most of all, the networks of betrayal disguised as friendship... They are all in their place in the book. Mehmet Ağar, SOCAR, FETÖ, Sedat Peker, Aliyev… It is as if we are reading a post-Susurluk novel… But unfortunately, this is not a novel.

With this book, Furkan Karabay portrays not only the portrait of a businessman but also a dirty panorama of an era. In this age where the media is silenced, the judiciary acts on instructions, and the state is managed like a holding company, “Gurban” stands before us as a courageous document of journalism.

Some say, “The man who wrote this book is either crazy or very brave.” I am fine with both. Because sometimes courage passes through madness.

As a final word, let me note this: Those who put him inside for the third time today have already been written into history along with the book Furkan penned.

Because remember, being a “gurban” (victim/sacrifice) is not destiny. Sometimes the “victims” chosen by this system write the real history…

And we will read Gurban so as not to forget this story.

To understand, to explain, and to resist…

And at this point, one must not forget a thank you. Tekin Yayınevi, one of the few compasses of conscience that has remained standing among publishers, has once again stood by the truth. Greetings to the publishing houses in this country that print not just books, but also the price of courage.