September 10, 2010

An evaluation of Hanefi Avcı’s book

Emre Uslu

Hanefi Avcı recently published a book titled “Haliç’te Yaşayan Simonlar” (Simons in the Golden Horn). The book has created much controversy, due to Avcı’s position.

Before moving on to my assessment of the book, I should clarify my relationship with Avcı.

I don’t know him closely, but I like him very much. He was a police chief who became an idol for young police officers after statements he made during the Feb. 28 process. He was one of my references when I went to the US. He did not know, but many of my friends, the people I know and my teachers from the academy and I lobbied in his favor when the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) came to power. I wrote several articles about him. I knew the process of his appointment. Thanks to effective lobbying, he was appointed to the Anti-smuggling and Organized Crime Bureau (KOM) even though he did not expect it. In my opinion, his assignment to the KOM was the first move toward normalization in the balance between civilians and the military.