WAN – Lawyers say the 11th Judicial Reform Package, which excludes political prisoners, falls short of expectations, asking: “Is this package really the product of a democratic mind-set?”

 

Reactions continue to pour in regarding the 11th Judicial Reform Package, which entered into force after being published in the Official Gazette and paves the way for the release of thousands of people imprisoned for various offenses. 

 

Lawyers Mehmet Salih Coşkun, Co-Chair of the Wan (Van) Branch of the Human Rights Association (İHD), and Erhan Çiftçiler, a member of the Prison Commission of the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), stressed that equality cannot be claimed in a package that excludes political prisoners.

 

‘ILL PRISONERS MUST BE RELEASED’

 

Underlining that the 11th Judicial Package, which was debated for days both in the commission and the general assembly, remains below expectations, Mehmet Salih Coşkun said: “There are no regulations whatsoever addressing expectations related to the Peace and Democratic Society Process.”

 

Coşkun stated that, similar to the regulations introduced during the Covid-19 period, many people have once again been excluded from the scope of the package. Emphasizing that the exclusion of sick political prisoners is unacceptable, he said: “There is no regulation concerning ill prisoners whose release was expected within the context of the peace process. We demand the immediate release of those imprisoned for their thoughts and political views, particularly seriously ill prisoners.”

 

‘THIS IS NOT A REFORM ISSUE’

 

ÖHD member Erhan Çiftçiler questioned the nature of the package, saying: “Was this really the product of a democratic mind-set? Was it supposed to be like this? That is what needs to be examined.”

 

Recalling that political offenses have been excluded from all judicial packages introduced since 2020, while amnesty has been granted for criminal offenses, Çiftçiler noted that more than 410 thousand people convicted of ordinary crimes are currently in prison. He added that with the new judicial reform, one quarter of these prisoners will be released, while political prisoners will remain incarcerated. “This is not a reform issue,” he said and added: “It is about reintegrating 100 thousand convicts into society.”

 

‘THE PACKAGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROCESS’

 

Stating that the package has caused great disappointment alongside the Peace and Democratic Society Process, Çiftçiler emphasized that efforts toward building a democratic society are required for the process to be meaningful. He noted that the reforms result in the release of individuals whose actions contradict the construction of a democratic society, adding: “That is precisely why this package has nothing to do with the process.”

 

MA / Lutfu Pala