Prominent columnist Mehmet Y. Yılmaz sharply articulated the controversy in an article for the T24 news portal. Yılmaz described the scene as deeply unsettling, stating, "We must accept that this image is not normal at all." He argued that the act of searching disciplined military officers, who are trained to obey commands without question, demonstrates a profound lack of faith from their civilian and military superiors. A simple order for officers to attend unarmed should have been sufficient, Yılmaz contended, but the searches visibly proved that "the officers are no longer trusted."
Yılmaz's analysis extends this crisis of confidence to Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MİT). In the aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt, MİT's authority was expanded to include intelligence gathering within the military precisely to prevent such internal threats. The fact that a physical police search was still deemed necessary suggests a parallel distrust in MİT's ability to vet personnel and guarantee the security of a high-profile state event. "If MİT were trusted," Yılmaz wrote, "one would trust its ability to identify any officers who might attempt an assassination or a terrorist act… and this unpleasant scene would not have occurred."
In this complex and dynamic environment, the only institution that appeared to hold the state's complete confidence was the police force tasked with conducting the searches. Yılmaz pointed to the inherent irony of using one armed body to police another, warning of the dangers when such suspicion becomes institutionalized. "Once paranoia begins to dominate state administration, it is not easy to predict where it will stop," he cautioned, highlighting the potential for escalating internal friction.
Ultimately, the columnist concluded that the incident projects a damaging image for the nation's leadership. He speculated that the Commander-in-Chief—a title held by the President—must have been disturbed by the visuals. "The image of a Commander-in-Chief who does not trust his own army was not pleasant at all," Yılmaz concluded. The searches, intended as a security precaution, have instead cast a long shadow, fueling a narrative of a state deeply wary of its own defenders.
Photo: Mersin Portal