* Photo: Utku Ucrak - Ankara / Anadolu Agency (AA)
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Justice Minister Gül emphasized the "supremacy of law" at the Presumption of Innocence and Right to Good Reputation Symposium today.
Underlining the need to learn a lesson from the past and the crucial importance of the principle of rule of law for democracy, Justice Minister Gül said, "Our guide is the law, our route is the law, our signpost is the law. Our mentality is not 'Let's do it, then let the law follow us.' But our mentality is 'Let the law walk ahead of us and let's adjust our pace accordingly'."
Soylu said, 'Let the court ruling follow us'
The above remarks of Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül have been interpreted as a response to Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu.
Addressing the neighborhood heads in a meeting last week, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu briefly said the following:
"We have to free our neighborhoods from derelict and abandoned buildings. There is drug use in derelict buildings. Neighborhood heads say, 'There is a court ruling, we cannot demolish it'. Demolish it, my friend. Let the court ruling follow us. How can we know who demolished it?"
'Presumption of innocence, right to good reputation'
Further in his speech at today's symposium, Minister Gül underlined that the moral essence of the rule of law is the respect for human dignity, the importance attached to it and the protection provided for it.
Noting that all humans are equal in terms of this respect, importance and protection, Minister Gül said that the major indicators of this sensitivity is the presumption of innocence and the right to good reputation.
Justice Minister Gül stated that "no one has the freedom to cast slurs on anyone" and added, "Regardless of their worldviews, lifestyles, sects, dispositions and ethnic identities, the dignity, honor and respectability of our 84 million citizens are entrusted to the state."
"The right to good reputation is the right of the entire humanity," added the Justice Minister further.
Emphasis on 'political polemics' by top court president
Today's symposium was also attended by Court of Cassation President Mehmet Akarca, Constitutional Court President Zühtü Arslan, Council of State President Zeki Yiğit, Union of Turkish Bar Association (TBB) Chair Metin Feyzioğlu and members of the judiciary.
In his speech at the symposium, Constitutional Court President Zühtü Arslan said, "The members of the legislative and executive must refrain from statements, behaviors and actions aimed at influencing or defaming the judiciary." The president of the top court also warned against "actions that would exceed the Constitutional and legal powers of judges and prosecutors and drive the members of the judiciary into political polemics." (AS/SD)
