Erdoğan says opposition interferes with judicial independence, urges judges to take action

Photo: AA

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called on judges to "do what is necessary" against those who give instructions to them in violation of judicial independence.

At yesterday's (November 25) parliamentary group meeting, Erdoğan said, "As much as I have no right to give instructions [to judges], the main opposition has no right to give instructions as well. Other people have no right to give instructions, but why don't you do what is necessary when these instructions are given?"

His words were targeted at opposition politicians, who criticize the imprisonment of Selahattin Demirtaş, the former co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), and Osman Kavala, a businessperson and a rights defender.

In response to the criticism that the two people's imprisonment is politically motivated, Erdoğan said those who directly or indirectly caused "ignobleness, treason and suffering" should be addressed by the judiciary and this was not the subject of politics.

Demirtaş and Kavala have been behind bars since 2016 and 2018, respectively, and have not been released despite the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) decisions in favor of them.

They have been charged with several offenses, including membership in a terrorist organization and attempted overthrow of the government.

"Dear members of the judiciary, Article 138 of the Constitution concerns other people as much as it concerns me," the president remarked. "Why don't you take the necessary steps? Does anyone have the right to give instructions to you?"

"I had to say this because I can't accept that the judiciary remains silent against the steps taken," he added.

Article 138 of the Constitution ensures judicial independence and prohibits giving orders or instructions to judges.

According to the presidential system adopted in 2017, Erdoğan directly appoints 12 of the 15 members of the Constitutional Court, the top court of the country, and six of the 13 members of the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK), the judicial overseeing body. (VK)