Turkey's Opposition Discusses New Judicial Reforms

Following the cabinet's ratification last week, the Turkish parliament will discuss the new judicial reforms in the penal code, a process publicly known as 4th Judicial Package. However, several human rights activists and intellectuals are questioning whether reforms will really alleviate pressure on freedom of expression. 

What will be the practical aspect of new reforms? Are reforms meeting the needs for improving the freedom of expression? Will Turkey's jailed journalists, lawyer and students benefit from new judicial reforms?

Danış Beştaş: "It would be too optimistic to expect too many acquittals"

Peace and Democracy Party Interim Chairperson Danış Beştaş claimed that new judicial reforms aimed only to reduce Turkey's lost cases at ECHR, rather than improving freedom of expression.

"New reforms are not even effective on the famous Article 301. And it is very purposeful that no reforms are foreseen on Article 314, a Turkish penal code article that regulated adherence on illegal organizations. It would be too optimistic to expect too many acquittals," Beştaş told bianet.

Elçi: “90 percent of KCK suspects have been charged with Article 314/2"

Diyarbakir Bar Association chairperson Tahir Elçi told bianet that even though new judicial reforms included some improvements, they were still far from resolving Turkey's fundamental judicial issues on freedom of expression and other basic human rights.

Elçin also complained that no amendments were made on Article 314/2.

"At least 90 percent of Turkey's jailed journalists, lawyers and students have been charged with Article 314/2 that regulated adherence on illegal organizations. So our expectation was that lawmakers would work on an amendment that redefined adherences on illegal organizations and exempted non-combatant individuals to be charged as a combatant organization member."

Onur: "Turkey's justice system is like matryoshka dolls"

CHP deputy Melda Onur said that the majority of ongoing trials on Turkey's lawyers, generals, journalists and students had a hidden political agenda. 

"Turkey's justice system is like matryoshka dolls with all these reforms, amendments and packages. It seems like Turkey is administered by a group of judges and prosecutors. It is even out of AKP's control. Even Turkey's Interim PM Bülent Arınç raised concerns over new judicial reforms. Maybe a fifth round of reforms are already on way," Onur told bianet. (EG/EKN/BM)