DİYARBAKIR - The bar associations of 15 provinces in Turkey call the Kurdish question the most important problem in the country and stress that the problem prevents a democratisation process and cannot be solved through security measures.

 

The bar associations of 15 Kurdish provinces in Turkey agreed on the central issues of their profession at a joint meeting. The meeting took place on Friday at the invitation of the Ağrı Bar Association, and the final declaration was published today. The meeting was attended by the bar associations of Adıyaman, Ağrı, Batman, Bingöl, Bitlis, Tunceli, Diyarbakır, Hakkari, Kars, Mardin, Muş, Siirt, Urfa, Şırnak and Van.

 

THE MOST PAINFUL PROBLEM OF TURKEY

 

In the final declaration, the Kurdish question is described as the most important and painful problem in Turkey. The bar associations emphasised that the problem cannot be solved with "security policy" measures and stated the following: "The unresolved Kurdish question is one of the most important obstacles to Turkey's democratisation process. It has been painfully experienced that the Kurdish question cannot be solved through violence and security policies. In this context, we consider it essential to reach a broad consensus involving all sections of society for a democratic and peaceful solution to the issue based on equal civil rights."

 

With regard to the impending ban on the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), the bar associations demand that the Constitutional Court reject "closure procedures against political parties, especially the HDP, on the basis of freedom of association" as a matter of principle.

 

FİNCANCI'S ARREST EMPHASIZED

 

The statement also addressed the arrest of Şebnem Korur Fincancı, Chairperson of the Central Council of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), for her comments on the use of chemical weapons by the Turkish state against guerrillas. The Bar Associations warned against the introduction of a new system of trusteeship over professional associations and civil society organisations by amending the law, stating: "This situation points to a new climate in which freedom of association will come under serious pressure. We consider this situation unacceptable and call for the abandonment of such initiatives."

 

POLICY OF IMPUNITY

 

The bar associations also pointed to the policy of impunity for violations of the law, the lack of effective measures against femicide, the threat of serious interference with freedom of expression and freedom of the press through the "censorship law" passed by parliament, and the threat posed by the combination of physical violence against lawyers with economic violence.