Film on British whistleblower's life to hit Turkish theaters

A former British government translator who blew the whistle on efforts to sell the Iraq war says a movie adapted from her life would help pave the way for "discussions and dialogue" on the "truth and accountability" of war.

In 2003 Katherine Gun got a confidential email from a U.S. spy agency seeking help in wiretapping UN figures ahead of a crunch vote on Iraq, and it was then she decided to go public, risking her career, her future, and her freedom.

After the leak, Gun was fired, arrested, and charged with breaching the UK's Official Secrets Act. But within half an hour, her case was dropped because the prosecution declined to offer evidence.

She couldn't stop the war in Iraq, but her story was adapted into a movie - titled Official Secrets, starring Keira Knightley and Rhys Ifans - set to be released on Jan. 3 in Turkey.

"I hope the film will be well received in Turkey and that people here will enjoy the film," Gun said. 

"I also hope it will create discussions and dialogue about the issues of truth and accountability, of the devastating consequences of war," added the ex-employee of GCHQ, Britain's top-secret intelligence agency.

Of the film's influence on audiences in Turkey, which borders Iraq and has felt the war's long-term regional consequences, Gun said: "Turkey fortunately or not, is situated in a globally strategic hot spot."

"By showing that it is a country which embraces values of democracy, justice, and liberty and [can] be seen as a beacon in the region, this in my view would be a good thing for the whole region," she said.

Just the facts

Gun, who now splits her time between Turkey and Britain, said that the film's completion and release took many years.

"I and...