Turkey's Drug and Illegal Betting Quagmires: The Real Scenarios
Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Turkey appears to be ensnared in deepening issues of drug trafficking and illegal gambling.
- These problems are occurring within the context of accelerated processes under the current presidential government system, which the article describes as a
Turkey is grappling with escalating problems of drug addiction and illegal online betting, issues that have intensified under the current presidential government system. The article criticizes this system, referring to it as a "personal state" regime that emerged as a political consequence of the 2016 coup attempt.
The nation seems to be sinking deeper into these two significant societal challenges. The description highlights the paradoxical nature of the illegal betting issue, implying that the focus on "illegal" gambling suggests an acceptance of "legal" betting as a positive alternative, a framing the author disputes.
The piece suggests that the acceleration of these problems is linked to broader political and systemic changes within Turkey. The current governmental structure, established after the July 15, 2016, military coup attempt, is presented as a catalyst for these negative trends, contributing to a state of affairs where societal ills like drug abuse and illicit gambling flourish.
Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.