Millions Want Justice

Dozens of political parties, trade unions and other organizations are taking a joint effort for the removal of Special Authority Courts and the Anti-Terror Law, called the "Anti-Society Law" by the initiative. The group of organizations claims to take a stance against the use of this law and the courts by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as a means to abolish democratic rights.

Organizations like the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), the Turkey Union of Chambers of Architects and Engineers (TMMOB), the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK), the Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK) or the Human Rights Association (İHD) and many others are part of the initiative.

"Millions Want Justice" is the name of the initiative. The joint declaration was introduced by KESK President Laim Özgen on Friday (16 March).

"With 13,000 political detainees were are taking the world's lead"

Özgen summarized that more than 100 journalists are currently being detained as well as 6,400 members and executives of the BDP, elected deputies, dozens of trade union executives and 600 students.

He pointed out that Turkey was taking the international lead with a total of 13,000 political detainees and that one third of all people detained on terror charges world-wide were incarcerated in Turkish prisons. "We are also the world leader in the number of detained journalists, lawyers and students", Özgen said.

"We do not want to give statements, we want express ourselves"

Özgen said the AKP created a "special legal system, an extraordinary legal order" when they renewed the Anti-Terror Law in 2006 and replaced the State Security Courts with Special Authority Courts. That way, the political power transformed the system into a tool of oppression against all sections of opposition, Özgen criticized.

"We do not want to give statements [at court], we want to express ourselves".

"We want to have a say, we want actions, organization and press freedom".

"We do not want the oppressive order of the AKP shown in the name of 'democracy'; we want our democratic rights and freedoms".

"We want the Anti-Society (Terror!) Law that constitutes a huge obstruction before democratic rights to be removed. We want Special Authority Courts that disguise the DGM mentality to be removed", Özgen demanded on behalf of the "Millions Want Justice" Initiative.

Participating Institutions:

Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK), Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK), Turkey Union of Chambers of Architects and Engineers (TMMOB), Turkish Medical Association (TTB), Writers Union of Turkey (TYS), Platform for Solidarity with Detained Journalists (TGDP), Contemporary Journalists Association (ÇGD), PEN Turkey, Journalist Friends of Ahment (Şık) and Nedim (Şener) (ANGA), Humanr Rights Association (İHD), Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD), Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), Labourer Movement Party (EHP), Party for Equality and Democracy (EDP), Labour Party (EMEP), Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), Socialist Democracy Party (SDP), Community Centres Organization, Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), Socialist Solidarity Platform (SODAP), Labourers' Socialist Party (SP), Leverage, Partisan, Cinder, Social Freedom Party-Initiative (TÖP-G), Social Future Party Initiative, Socialist Unity Movement (SBH), Association of Teachers, Liberal Lawyers Association, Lawyers Foundation, Federation of Kangal Associations, Initiative for Solidarity with Detained Students. (NV)