Mafia, Man, and the State

MAFIA, MAN, AND THE STATE

INTRODUCTION

Dear readers!

I had to make a short trip to Istanbul. I had settled into the spacious and comfortable seats of a First Class Varan bus when the driver pressed a button and activated an audio recording. A female voice, speaking in exceptionally beautiful Turkish, filled my ears: “Dear customers! From this moment on, you are under the GUARANTEE of Varan Tourism company.” The speech continued in this vein. However, this particular sentence led my mind elsewhere. I was reminded of the words spoken under oath during the initiation of new members into the Mafia, which is a fundamental principle of mafia culture: “From now on, you are under my guarantee and protection.” This made it inevitable for me to write an article about the Mafia.

THE SPREAD OF MAFIA STRUCTURES

These days, humanity is grappling with the Covid-19 virus, which started in China and spread worldwide. In the past, a similar situation occurred with organized groups, or the Mafia. The Mafia structure, whose fundamental rules and, in a sense, 'constitution' emerged in Sicily, spread from Sicily to the entire world like an infectious disease. Today, mafia organizations exist in all countries, poor or rich. Their founding principles are all somehow based on the rules called OMERTA, established by the Sicilian Mafia.

Today, in Turkey, mafia structures exist in every sector, even in religious sects. No one can deny this reality. The destiny of our country, in a sense, progresses along the path determined by mafias, large and small, and is shaped according to the interests of the Mafia. Never before have mafia organizations been so widespread and effective in Turkey. Previously operating only in the drug and prostitution sectors, the Mafia has now infiltrated state administration and is running rampant in every sector. Let us not forget that the more Mafia there is in a country, the less state there is.

Now, if you wish, let's examine the general structure of the Mafia and how it emerged.

THE BIRTH OF THE MAFIA

It all began on the island of Sicily… Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, south of Italy, today has a population of 5 million. Sicilian (the Sicilian language) and Italian are spoken on the island. Sicily is one of Italy's 20 autonomous regions. Sicilian is an independent language in the Latin language group. The Autonomous Sicilian Parliament has begun to use Sicilian as a language of instruction, but it does not yet have official language status.

The etymology, or origin, of the word Mafia is based on the Sicilian adjective mafiusu (to swagger). In later years, meanings such as 'fearless, proud' were also attributed to this word. Some researchers suggest the possibility that the adjective mafiusu may have come from Arabic. (Arabs ruled the island for about 200 years. It is also claimed to be derived from the Arabic word mu’afa (معافى), meaning security, protection. The Turkish word muhafaza, meaning protection, is derived from this Arabic root.)

The Mafia structure, as we know it, first emerged in Sicily. I would like to explain how this structure came about with a simple example:

I want you to imagine a butcher shop and a grocery store in Sicily. The grocery store wants to buy meat from the butcher and sell it in its own section, but it has no intention of paying sales tax to the state. Since this would be a black market transaction, if one party cheats, the other would have no chance of going to court. The grocer fears that the butcher will sell him stale meat. The butcher also worries that the grocer will not pay him. What is the solution to reconcile two parties who do not trust each other? Otherwise, both parties will miss a great opportunity.

They are forced to ask for help from the local mafia leader. The mafia leader understands the fears of both parties and guarantees that the transaction can be carried out under his protection for a sum less than the sales tax. The cheating party will be mercilessly punished. In this way, a structure emerges where all three parties profit. This is how the Mafia first emerged and spread like a virus throughout the world.

THE MAFIA'S 'OMERTA' RULE

The true etymological meaning of the word "Omerta" is "modest and humble." Omerta, which the Mafia implemented among its own members, is the fundamental law of the Mafia. Briefly, it is the combination of the phrases "I saw nothing, heard nothing, know nothing, I will not speak." Mafia members who do not comply with this law pay a heavy price. All Mafia leaders are known and called among their own men by nicknames such as "REIS" (Chief), "BABA" (Father), "HACI" (Pilgrim), "AĞA" (Lord), etc.

The Omerta Law has two main components:

1. Mafia members must remain silent, keep quiet, and not be informers.
2. They must not disobey the Chief's orders and must remain loyal and faithful to the Chief.

In short, the Omerta law mandates extreme loyalty and solidarity against state authorities, and maintaining silence. Omerta is a spontaneously formed "social contract." There is even a proverb in Sicilian that means this: "He who is deaf, blind, and mute lives in peace for a hundred years."

According to the Omerta law, anyone who takes refuge in the laws of the state and puts their colleagues in a difficult situation is a coward and a fool. They deserve punishment. "Revenge" and "teaching a lesson" are the fundamental principles on which the Mafia relies. To express the determination of the desire for revenge, the words spoken by a wounded Mafia member to his assailant who shot him are always discussed in Mafia circles: "If I live, I will kill you; if I die, I will forgive you, but my friends will kill you."

The reason for the Mafia's emergence in Sicily lies in the oppression of the Italian state and the fact that it was previously a colony of other foreign states. The Mafia, in a sense, assumed the role of a "de facto," or actually, a secret state. Sicilian nationalism is hidden within it.

THE SPREAD OF THE MAFIA

The Omerta Code of Silence was carried like a virus from Sicily to America through immigrants. Sicilians living in America formed criminal organizations based on the Omerta rule against the state and laws, engaging in all activities, and continuing their operations across a wide spectrum from sports to cinema, from companies to political parties.

The primary task of the Mafia was to engage in blackmail and extortion. Arbitrating and mediating among criminal organizations was another duty. Negotiating illegal transactions and agreements and ensuring the forceful implementation of decisions were also among the Mafia's responsibilities. In addition, loan sharking, drug trafficking, prostitution, and fraud also fell within the Mafia's scope of work. Despite all these negative activities, Mafia members describe themselves as follows: "I protect the rights of people who have been victimized. I am a good person. I feel responsible for protecting everyone who seeks refuge with me."

Here, I also want to touch upon an important issue. Mafia members do not see themselves as "Mafia" or call themselves by that name. We, the ordinary citizens, call them "Mafia" and know them as such, but they refer to themselves as "Cosa Nostra," meaning "Our Cause" or "Man of the Cause." The state, meaning the laws, defines these groups as "Organized crime organizations."

Today, there are mafia groups in every country. The most important of these are the Sicilian Mafia, or Cosa Nostra, the Japanese Mafia, or Yakuza, and the Russian Mafia, or Bratva (Brotherhood).

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, a power vacuum emerged. Mafias quickly filled this vacuum and proliferated. They took over all sectors. They saw themselves as "Bratva," or "Brotherhood organization." They built magnificent granite tombs for their members who died sacrificially in pursuit of their cause. The cost of one of these tombs is about 250 thousand dollars.

I was astonished when I visited the Mafia tomb in Moscow. If I knew that after I died, my Mafia CHIEF would have such a tomb built to honor me, an interesting feeling of wanting to join this organization immediately develops within a person... It gives the impression that the Chief will not leave you alone in the grave, in the afterlife, and will protect you. Let's not forget that mafias have deeply influenced even presidential elections in Russia. Putin, in his early years, also established his own mafia, drawing on his KGB membership. Especially those who participated in the Afghanistan war, with high-level weapons experience and commando skills, either formed their own mafias or became members of existing ones. It would not be wrong at all to call Russia a mafia paradise.

PROTOTYPES OF MAFIA LEADERS (EARLY EXAMPLES)

In Turkey and the world, there are two names that elevated the Mafia archetype to its peak and are considered the prototypes (first examples) of this sector: Kürt İdris in Turkey and Al Capone in the world. If you wish, let's try to get to know these two names, which I consider important.

AL CAPONE, THE FOUNDING FATHER OF THE WORLD MAFIA STRUCTURE

Al Capone was born in New York City in 1899. His family were Italian immigrants. At a young age, he worked in neighborhood gangs and prostitution rings. For insulting a woman, her brother struck Al Capone's left cheek three times with a razor. Although Al Capone hated it, from that day on he was known by the nickname "Scarface." Whenever he had his picture taken, he tried not to show his left cheek. Because he frequently changed his clothes to keep up with fashion, his close friends gave him the nickname "Snorky," meaning "Stylish man." He preferred to be called by this nickname.

In his early 20s, he settled in Chicago. In those years, there was Prohibition in America. It may seem strange to you now, but the USA once banned the sale of alcohol throughout the country (1920-1933). Since Chicago was close to the Canadian border, Al Capone secretly sold alcohol he smuggled from Canada. He was lucky. He was protected by a political organization called Unione Siciliana (Sicilian Union). He had bombs placed in bars that refused to buy his smuggled alcohol. In this frenzy, 100 civilians died. In those years, Chicago was teeming with gangs. Al Capone eliminated them one by one. He was now unrivaled. Since he had the mayor in his pocket, the police were powerless.

Why is Al Capone important? He is the first person in history to transform simple gang organizations into powerful Mafia structures, like a state. He is the founder and implementer of the Mafia Constitution called OMERTA. He defied the state by saying, "If the state has a CONSTITUTION, we have our OMERTA." If he hadn't been imprisoned, he planned to prepare himself for the American presidential elections. In my opinion, he could have done a better job than Donald Trump.

Al Capone extended a helping hand to the poor and unemployed. He protected and watched over members and their families who swore allegiance to him, no matter the cost. Al Capone's organization became an attraction for the masses who lost their jobs and became impoverished during the 1929 world crisis. So much so that when he went to watch baseball games, a stampede would occur, everyone saw him as a "Savior," applauding him on their feet. He was even likened to "Robin Hood" for helping the poor.

Everything was going well for Al Capone. Money flowed like water, his coffers were full. One day, he made a mistake that caused him to fall out of public favor. He called a meeting of seven gang leaders operating in Chicago. On Valentine's Day, he gunned down the seven gang leaders in broad daylight, in front of everyone. Because of this act, he was declared "Public Enemy Number One" by the state. The public also gradually began to distance themselves from Al Capone.

The state first targeted Al Capone's three close bodyguards. They were tasked with killing Al Capone. This news somehow reached Al Capone. Al Capone summoned his three close bodyguards for a meeting at the same time. He stood behind his close friends, who were sitting side by side on three chairs, and struck them with a baseball bat so suddenly and forcefully that he crushed all three of their skulls, killing them. The state realized that it could not get rid of Al Capone in this way, and decided to put other plans into action.

The police had to document a mistake by Al Capone to arrest and imprison him. Eventually, an investigation was launched against Al Capone for tax evasion (1931). He defended himself successfully. In court, he addressed the jury, saying: "I am a businessman who gives the people what they want. All I do is meet and provide for the needs of the people."

This defense was published not only in Chicago newspapers but also extensively in popular press across the USA. His popularity increased extraordinarily, but he received an 11-year sentence. In prison, he completed his sentence by sewing shoe soles for 8 hours every day.

The syphilis he contracted also weakened his constitution. He was sent to Alcatraz prison, where America's most dangerous prisoners were held (an island off the coast of San Francisco, now converted into a museum). In 1947, he died of a heart attack at the age of 48. When he died, he had no real estate or bank account registered in his name. His grave is in Hillside, Illinois.

MAFIA STRUCTURE IN TURKEY

In Turkey, the press and media used the phrase "underworld" instead of "Mafia" for many years. The first sectors that the Mafia structure in Turkey got involved in were drugs, prostitution, protecting celebrities, gambling, casinos, and cinema. A large part of Turkish films made in the 1960s and 70s conveyed what was happening in the underworld to the audience. This understanding, which began with the culture of 'kabadayılık' (tough guy/bully culture), found a place in the hearts of Anatolian people. For example, Yılmaz Güney's behavior, gazes, facial expressions, and ethical values in mafia films were imposed on the subconscious of the audience. "There are bad guys in the Mafia, but there are also tough guys who don't covet other people's honor." In the end, the good side always wins. Here I must make a note: Kürt İdris and Yılmaz Güney were close friends. We even know that Yılmaz Güney opened a casino in his honor and gave the money earned that day to Yılmaz Güney "to support him." If I also mention that the same Yılmaz Güney hid Mahir Çayan, the leader of the left-wing organization THKP-C, in his house, I leave the resulting contradiction to your discretion.

Due to the allure created by the Mafia archetype depicted in films, a youth emerged in every town and city of Anatolia whose souls were washed with Mafia values. In later years, the propaganda of legal or illegal youth organizations was added to the Mafia values in the hearts of the youth. Right-wing and left-wing political views based on Mafia values led to the emergence of an interesting hybrid structure. For example, in right-wing and left-wing organizations, the culture of "not looking at a girlfriend with bad intentions" or "not betraying a friend" was derived from the Mafia understanding. In short, when you scratch away the "right-wing or left-wing political propaganda" part of these political organizations, you find the Mafia values imposed by Yeşilçam itself.

The 1980 Military Coup, in a sense, scraped away what we might call the "political propaganda" of all right-wing or left-wing organizations, causing the nationalist and revolutionary cadres, suddenly left in the middle, to be left alone with the Mafia values they carried in their hearts, thus the mafia structure gained extraordinary speed in Turkey. Compared to the new generation of mafia organizations, Kürt İdris is like a clean spoon. Things got even more complicated when the PKK launched an armed struggle not long after. On one hand, the state-backed nationalist mafia, and on the other hand, the Kurdish mafia under PKK protection, multiplied and diversified and expanded their areas of activity.

For example, while the traditional underworld controlled areas such as drug trafficking, prostitution, and the casino sector in its early years, the Mafia gained a new essence in the new era. The war with the PKK significantly affected this process. Just as soldiers and intelligence officers who gained experience in the Afghanistan war formed the basis of the mafias established in Russia in the 1990s, similarly, commandos, intelligence officers, or soldiers who gained experience in the war against the PKK later either formed their own mafias or entered the service of those with financial power to protect them. In the same way, a significant number of Kurdish-origin mafia leaders, especially in the drug and arms trafficking sectors, operate under the protection of the PKK.

THE FIRST MAFIA PROTOTYPE IN TURKEY: KÜRT İDRİS

Kürt İdris's real name is İdris Özbir. He was born in Kars in 1937. When he came to Istanbul, he didn't know a single word of Turkish, so he was known by the nickname "Kürt İdris" (Kurdish İdris). In the early 1970s, he came to Istanbul and met small mafia organizations. He made a name for himself by committing minor crimes. In the 1980s, he had the chance to meet various mafia bosses by working as a bodyguard, meaning a tough guy in clubs and bars. It is known that he was a close friend of the famous mafia boss Dündar Kılıç.

After a while, he decided to form his own mafia group. After 1990, "Kürt İdris," who made a name for himself in the mafia world with his crimes, began to be monitored by security forces. Kürt İdris engaged in highly dangerous activities with severe penalties, such as parceling and selling treasury lands, collecting checks and promissory notes, intentional injury, kidnapping and threats, and international smuggling. İdris Özbir was accused, along with other defendants, in a case heard at the Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) of using intimidation and fear to collect checks and promissory notes and mediate land disputes. He spent about 8 months in prison. When his innocence was confirmed, he was released in 2001. While actively continuing his role as a mafia boss, he faced the death penalty 10 times for the crimes he committed. Kürt İdris died of lung cancer in 2002 while still on trial. Özbir's funeral was befitting a famous mafia boss. Leading mafia leaders, artists, politicians, in short, the most prominent figures of the country, were at his funeral.

YOUTH AND SELF-ACTUALIZATION

Dear readers!

After providing a general introduction to the Mafia structure, it is now time to explain why I wrote this article. As you know, some scientists have said, "Man is a talking animal." Some scientists have said, "Man is a thinking animal." However, the generally accepted definition at the latest stage is: "Man is an animal that wants to actualize himself."

The English terms "Self-fulfillment / self-realization" can be translated into Turkish as "kendini gerçekleştirme" (self-actualization). The term "self-actualization" mostly means that every individual becomes aware of their own talents and witnesses that they are fully utilizing this talent. Expressing one's own talents and perceiving that one has value in society is a fundamental factor of human happiness. In America, this mostly means proving oneself in work or education. The most important feature that differentiates America from other countries in the world is that it offers every individual the chance to "actualize their own talent." An individual living in the USA has acquired "self-actualization" in school or work life as an innate talent, inherited from the family. They feel obligated to achieve this without harming others.

Unfortunately, the youth in Turkey do not perceive the task of "self-actualization" as an individual responsibility. They try to achieve this by harming others, that is, to the detriment of other people. This understanding forms the basis of the mafia cult. For this reason, Turkish youth harbor a culture open to the mafia. When we question why people are willing to join mafia groups or form their own criminal organizations, the first thing that comes to mind is that they do it for money and to become rich. However, this is not true. The most important reason is that young people tend towards mafia structures, which is the shortest way to "self-actualization," that is, to prove to their surroundings that they are useful. In Turkish conditions, it is quite difficult for a person to "self-actualize" without harming others, but it is simple to actualize oneself to the detriment of others. Turkish youth prefer the easy way. For example, having members who have sworn allegiance to you under your command, believing that you can do whatever you want, feeling like a demigod, and being respected in society in this sense is a satisfaction of a "self-actualization" disease. This also applies to illegal organizations. While an insignificant shepherd in the village, the illegal organization giving him a weapon and telling him that he is responsible for a certain region, thus giving this shepherd the opportunity to "self-actualize and prove himself," is the most important factor that pushes ordinary people to join illegal organizations.

Everyone wants to experience the feeling of being an important person before they die. This is an indispensable element of human nature. In Turkey, the easiest way to gain respect for one's existence is through weapons, violence, and money. At times when the state's power weakens, mafia-type organizations take control of key positions. Everyone boasts about their connections, expresses this in terms of "self-actualization" when the time comes, and enjoys being associated with a certain mafia group. These expressions are never absent from their mouths: "I am the nephew of the MIT Director, I am the cousin of the Minister, I am very close to the President's family, everyone knows me, if I want, I can destroy that person, if I want, what wouldn't happen, I can handle everything with one phone call, everyone knows me, everyone fears me…"

THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS MAFIA LEADER: MOGILEVICH

The US and the European Union agree that Mogilevich is the world's biggest mafia leader. Who is this Mogilevich?

Mogilevich, of Jewish origin, was born in Kiev in 1946. In the 1980s (while the Soviet Union still reigned), he made a name for himself through his role in the emigration of Russian Jews to the USA and Israel. He promised the immigrants: "Transfer your assets (real estate) to me, and I will send you to the USA or Israel and send you the money from the sale of your assets." In this way, he pocketed the money he collected and established his own mafia. In the 1980s, he was punished for money laundering. In 1991, he went to Hungary. He married a Hungarian woman. He acquired Hungarian citizenship. He bought a factory that produced anti-aircraft weapons. In 1994, he bought Inkombank, Russia's largest private bank. He continued his money laundering activities. Hungary declared Mogilevich an undesirable person. England considers Mogilevich "the most dangerous man in the world." Mogilevich disrupted the financial world with his banking transactions and stock market traps. In 2008, Mogilevich, like Al Capone whom he emulated, was arrested in Russia for tax evasion. He was released in 2009. Mogilevich lives freely in Moscow today. Mogilevich, who is at the head of the world's largest mafia organization, is a close friend and under the protection of Putin. Putin used Mogilevich's mafia power to eliminate his rivals. In short, Russia is currently a state founded on mafia culture.

In Turkey, the mafia has now taken over all political parties. We should not be surprised if we see Sedat Peker or Alaattin Çakıcı as a Minister or even President in the next elections. Our people are now psychologically ready for such an experience. When Alaattin Çakıcı was released from prison, he was greeted by a convoy of thousands of cars. It is certainly not easy to win the hearts of so many people. Our people now expect "Protection, Justice" not from the state but from the Mafia. Under these circumstances, the concepts of "Rule of Law" and "Social Justice" have been buried until an indefinite date. All that remains for us is to say El Fatiha for the soul of the Rule of Law!