|
Rift Between Turkish Judiciary, AKP Government Deepens With War Of Words
The Board of Presidents of Turkish Supreme Court issued a very harsh statement today criticizing the government for undermining the judiciary’s independence. The statement accused the government for drafting an entirely new constitution that reflects the directives of only one political thought, in a single handed and secretive manner, and emphasized the importance for the constitution to be drafted with the broadest public participation and consensus. The statement criticized the manner in which the government also makes constitutional amendments single handedly, as in the case of amendments to articles 10 and 42 aimed at lifting the ban on headscarf that “passed at an unstoppable speed” despite public protests. The statement criticized the government for creating and encouraging hostility in the public towards the Chief Prosecutor for preparing the indictment for closure of a party, for turning him into a target, when in fact the prosecutor had acted within the framework of institutional duties and responsibilities and not in a personal way. The statement emphasized the government’s inappropriate action in submitting the hastily drafted judicial reform package to an EU official, for its evaluation and endorsement in Brussels, before any judicial or other authorities in Turkey had the chance to see and comment on it. The justices also said, “All these developments are sufficient to demonstrate that the independence of the judiciary has not been digested [by the government] and that there are insistent and systematic efforts under the false pretense of ensuring judicial impartiality, to create a partisan judiciary that supports, protects and is controlled by the executive branch. It read, “This is the goal; but it should be remembered that the history of humanity has not witnessed a nation and a state that can survive, bring happiness and security to its citizens and be successful in the race for civilization, with a controlled judiciary. The Turkish nation deserves to have a judiciary that is independent and effective. We hereby reiterate that we will continue to exercise the judicial power on behalf of the Turkish nation and watch for the independence of the judiciary." Source: Hurriyet, Zaman, Vatan, Milliyet, Turkey, May 21, 2008
Posted at: 2008-05-21
| 
