A Matter of Morality: Clean Hands, Dirty Minds

By Sadik Celik

Morality — a word everyone mouths but few live by. A word so easily spoken, yet so heavy to carry. We point fingers when we see its absence in others, but avert our eyes when it comes to our own share. Today, morality has become an ornament in society’s display case — admired from afar, rarely practiced.

We now confine morality to private life, stripping it of meaning in the public sphere. But the real collapse begins precisely there — when integrity becomes a “matter of choice” for both the rulers and the ruled.

In our culture, morality often lands in the wrong place. Corruption is silenced, yet someone’s personal life becomes a national debate. By reducing morality to sexuality and turning it into a tool of control, we make real immorality invisible. The true decay begins not in words but in actions — in taking what isn’t deserved, in claiming what belongs to others. When public servants fail their duties, when officials treat bribery as “sharing,” and when citizens see favoritism as “help,” speaking of morality becomes meaningless.

The Cult of Hypocrisy

A child who borrows a friend’s pencil without asking is excused — “let him learn to share.” But when that child grows up and takes credit for someone else’s work, we call it “cleverness.” When small injustices are normalized, large ones gain legitimacy.

Corruption and clientelism have infested nearly every corner of life. An honest businessman who refuses political favors, a civil servant who says no to manipulation — these are seen as misfits. In this order, the one who sends greetings to the “right person” wins. To produce is worthless; to “adjust” is genius. Hard work is replaced by connections. Integrity has turned from virtue to naivety. In this country, staying honest feels almost suicidal. Those who don’t play the game are branded as fools.

Even worse, incompetence is celebrated as success. Mismanaging public funds, rewarding loyalty over merit — these are now badges of achievement. Why? Because power shapes morality. Both the ruler and the ruled stare into the same mirror — only the frames differ.

The Global Collapse of Conscience

Then we look outward — and the global picture is no less grim.

In Israel’s parliament, Donald Trump boasts to Benjamin Netanyahu: “You asked for this weapon, that weapon — I delivered.” The bombs that kill babies in Gaza become a success story. No remorse, no empathy, not even a flicker of doubt. Netanyahu, the architect of genocide, listens with pride. Two men, one mindset — the deification of power, the death of conscience.

Trump’s support for Israel is not just political; it’s a global endorsement of immorality. Every bomb dropped adds to a country’s stock index. And when the same man calls himself a “messenger of peace” and expects a Nobel Prize — it’s not irony; it’s the institutionalization of moral decay.

Recently, Trump even shared an AI-generated video depicting himself wearing a crown and dropping excrement from a fighter jet on his own people — the same people protesting under the banner “No Kings.” And yet, this man threatens to deploy the army against his citizens. If this is what the “leader of the free world” looks like, freedom itself has already rotted.

The “Clean Hands” That Aren’t So Clean

Back home, we now hear talk of “clean hands.” But before we applaud, we must ask: What is being cleaned? Who is doing the cleaning?

The government targets select businessmen and institutions in the name of “anti-corruption.” But the public rightly wonders — is this a moral cleansing, or a redistribution of property and power? Those once nourished by state contracts are now being purged, not for justice, but to prepare for the next phase of control.

Meanwhile, opposition municipalities face investigations, artists face trials, and even the Central Bank is caught up in corruption claims. When irregularities stretch from refineries to the nation’s top financial institutions, the issue is not a few individuals — it’s systemic decay.

And yet, the so-called “cleansing” is selective. The outer rings — the “outsiders” — are punished, while the inner circle remains untouched. The real dirt lies at the center, but no one dares look there. Until power structures and institutions are cleaned from within, no “operation” can be called moral.

Where True Morality Begins

Justice is not justice when applied selectively. The opposition, too, must bear this responsibility. Morality is not only something to demand — it must also be practiced. True opposition is self-reflective, not self-righteous.

France provides a reminder: former President Nicolas Sarkozy served prison time for corruption. Current President Macron even hosted him afterward — but friendship did not erase the verdict. The law stood firm. That’s how a state preserves its moral memory.

In Turkey, we once had similar moments — when honest judges and prosecutors investigated corruption even within their own institutions. When leaders treated accountability not as weakness but as duty. Today, what’s missing is that very moral reflex — the courage to confront one’s own wrongs.

A Final Reckoning

The government’s new “clean hands” drive may well be pre-election posturing — an attempt to appear purified before facing voters. But voters see through selective justice. The nation faces a political deadlock; trust is broken on all sides. Early elections are on the horizon, but the public remains skeptical, unsure where to turn.

For the opposition, the lesson is clear: moral strength comes not from slogans but from transparency and courage.

Because true moral reform does not begin with applause — it begins with a mirror.

And unless every hand that reaches for power also reaches for that mirror, the stains will remain, no matter how often they wash.

PA Turkey intends to inform Turkey watchers with diverse views and opinions. Articles in our website may not necessarily represent the view of our editorial board or count as endorsement.

Follow our English language YouTube videos @REAL TURKEY and on Twitter: @AtillaEng.