CHP to Take Media Ban to Constitutional Court

Republican People’s Party (CHP) submitted a request to Turkey’s Constitutional Court on the media ban on the investigation of four former ministers to the Constitutional Court after Ankara 8^th Peace Court Judge Panel declined to uplift the ruling. 

Since the uplifting of ban rulings on Twitter and YouTube issued by Telecommunication Authorities (TIB) recently, Constitutional Court attracts the government’s reactions regarding the protection of basic freedoms. 

On November 25, several organizations and media outlets including CHP, bianet, Cumhuriyet Halk TV, Media Council and Journalists Society of Turkey (TGC) submitted motions to the media ban on the issue. 

On November 28, Ankara 8^th Peace Court Judge Panel declined CHP’s request to uplift the ruling, saying that the ruling “had nothing unlawful”. 

Kemal Akkurt, lawyer of CHP Group Interim Chairman and Ankara deputy Levent Gök, decided to take the case to the Constitutional Court within an individual application. 

A press statement is expected to be made in front of the court. 

İlkiz: Deeper rights-based content

In his bianet article entitled “Why should individual application right be protected?”, Communications Lawyer Fikret İlkiz emphasized on the following: 

“My expectation is that the rulings issued by the Constitutional Court after individual applications will have a deeper rights-based content on the protection of basic rights and freedom rather than the interests of the state. It will hopefully help the system work better, enrich the channels of discussion for the implementation of court rulings and restoration of everybody’s security of law. This way, the democratic law state gains power.” 

Example court for ECHR 

Previously, Constitutional Court Chairman Haşim Kılıç and 15 high court members have been invited to Individual Application Conference organized by European Court of Human Rights. 

The Turkish delegation was exemplified for its prompt response to individual applications and issuing of restorative rulings. (EÖ/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.