Yes, everyone is entitled an opinion. This is a story or Billy Hayes who got caught trying to smuggle hash out of Turkey. Yes, he got caught and yes, he was punished. Should the punishment fit the crime? I don't think  that the punishment fit the crime.  I don't think that this movie was  bashing any country in general. It let us know that one country's  definition of crime and punishment may differ from another.  Rent or buy  this movie---watch it a couple of times---did the punishment fit the crime?  He was initially sentenced to 5 years-his case was then reviewed 3 years  later and he was sentenced to 20 years. Isn't this punishment in itself?  The fact that they could "play with his sentence" and punish him  for the same crime more than once.  I think that Billy paid his dues by  just knowing this fact.  This move defines the meaning of MERCY.