'Execution Package' tension between AKP and DEM

The DEM Party has leveled harsh criticism at the 10th Judicial Package submitted to Parliament by the Justice and Development Party (AKP). In a written statement issued by the party, it was stated that the package was prepared with an understanding far removed from the sensitivities of the current political atmosphere, adding, "The expectations of victimized segments have been ignored."

The statement said, "The 10th Judicial Package Draft Law, which has been on the public agenda since February and presented under the name of 'reform' in the field of justice, was submitted to Parliament last Thursday at 15:00. Regarding this proposal, which will be discussed in the Justice Commission today at 16:00, we feel the need to share with the public the expectations of our people, our demands as the DEM Party, and the meaning carried by the regulation in question. First of all, it must be stated that the 10th Judicial Package is not a draft law prepared by observing the sensitivities of the political process we are going through. In the meetings our party has held repeatedly, our proposals to expand the scope of the package, to democratize it, and to make it egalitarian were not accepted, and no changes were made."

"THE PACKAGE HAS BEEN PREPARED WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT TURNS A DEAF EAR TO THE CALLS RISING FROM VICTIMIZED SEGMENTS"

The statement included the following expressions:

The 10th Judicial Package, as a continuation of the 9 judicial packages previously enacted, has been prepared with an understanding that turns a deaf ear to the calls rising from the public, the law, and victimized segments. However, there is an undeniable reality. The Call for Peace and Democratic Society made by Mr. Öcalan on February 27 has opened the doors to a new historical, political, and social process. The subsequent statement on May 12 is a historic step that grows the hope for a common life between the Turkish and Kurdish peoples. In such an atmosphere, every legal step to be taken should be taken in a way that will contribute to an honorable peace and living together, and strengthen the feelings of justice, equality, and freedom; the laws prepared being shaped in accordance with the law and the demands of the people will also certainly contribute to the construction of peace and a democratic society and create new opportunities on this path. However, the 10th Judicial Package submitted to Parliament is far from meeting these expectations. This package is not fair, it is not egalitarian, it is not in accordance with the law. In particular, the changes made in the execution regulations have created deep disappointment for tens of thousands of prisoners and their families. Necessary improvements for political prisoners, sick prisoners, and those subjected to systematic discrimination in prison are not included. Existing inequalities are being further deepened. The package contains regulations that are unconstitutional, far from legal predictability, arbitrary, and discriminatory. Grievances arising from past execution changes have not been resolved. The sense of justice has once again been sacrificed to political calculations.

"A JUSTICE CRISIS IS BEING EXPERIENCED"

Today, a justice crisis is being experienced in Turkey. We are talking about an order where the right to a fair trial is systematically violated, the judiciary is politicized, arrests have turned into a method of punishment, and long detention periods fill the prisons. According to Ministry of Justice data, as of April 7, 2025, there are over 403 thousand detainees and convicts in prisons. However, the total capacity of 395 prisons across Turkey is under 300 thousand. This picture reveals not only a physical overcrowding but also an order that disregards human dignity, fundamental rights, and legal security.

According to the Human Rights Association's April 2025 report, there are at least 1412 sick prisoners in Turkish prisons, and 335 of them are seriously ill. These people are deprived of the most basic rights such as the right to life and the right to health; unfortunately, their grievances are compounded by this law. Execution regulations directly affect the freedom, life, and health of individuals. For this reason, every step to be taken here is the conscientious and political responsibility of all parties and deputies in Parliament. However, what we see in the 10th Judicial Package is, unfortunately, once again injustice, discrimination, and denial. This draft law has turned its back on society's demand for justice; it has failed to evaluate the possibilities for a democratic solution, social peace, and legal equality.

"EXPECTATIONS ARE THE RESULT OF THE PROMISES MADE TO THE PUBLIC BY THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE"

Expectations are not hopes produced by the people themselves; they are the result of the promises made to the public by Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç.

The regulations that the public has been waiting for with hope for years have once again been excluded from the scope, and the public conscience has been bruised once again. So, what was the public expecting from this package? They were expecting the provision of unconditional and non-discriminatory release and treatment opportunities for sick prisoners. Again, they were expecting the resolution of legal inequalities regarding judicial and political prisoners in the COVID Law dated July 31, 2023. They were expecting the removal of conditional release bans for repeat offenders and secondary repeat offenders without any distinction of crime. They were expecting equality for political prisoners who were excluded from the discriminatory Execution Law of 2020. They were demanding to get rid of the arbitrary and discriminatory execution system and regulations that would contribute to an execution system that is lawful, predictable, and fair for everyone. And these expectations are not hopes produced by the people themselves; they are expectations that have arisen as a result of the promises and commitments made to the public by Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç himself.

TO THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE: WHERE IS SOCIAL PEACE IN THIS PACKAGE?

What did Mr. Tunç say to the microphones extended to him in April-May? "We will ensure criminal justice more effectively." "We will make important regulations for the sake of equality in execution." "Positive developments regarding sick prisoners will be included within the scope of the law." "We do not want any prisoner to lose their life in prison." "More people will benefit from home execution methods." "We will correct the inequalities in the COVID Law." He said these things. Now we ask the Minister from here: Which of these promises were included in the 10th Judicial Package? Where is social peace in this package? In which lines of these articles is justice hidden?

"IT IS NOT TOO LATE FOR THE SCOPE OF THE PACKAGE TO BE REGULATED WITH OUR PROPOSALS"

As the DEM Party Group, we will express here the path we will follow in the commission meeting we will attend shortly. We will submit a motion to remove the exception brought for aggravated life sentences from the draft text, especially in the regulation made in the 3rd paragraph of Article 110 of the Execution Law regarding the home execution of seriously ill prisoners. We will also ask for the removal of the vague and arbitrary condition of "not posing a serious and concrete danger in terms of public safety" regarding seriously ill prisoners. We will submit our motion to the commission for the removal of discriminatory expressions that prevent political prisoners from benefiting from the special execution methods envisaged for women, children, and the elderly. In addition, we will submit proposals for the creation of new articles. What are these? We will ask for the July 31 COVID Law to be included in the package by being regulated in an egalitarian and lawful manner, and we will submit a motion for it to be regulated as a new specialization article. We will propose that the phrase "definite vital danger" regarding seriously ill prisoners in Article 16 of the Execution Law be removed and changed to "existing serious illness."

The commission and the ruling party deputies need to listen to the people's demands for equality and justice. It is not too late for these proposals of ours to be taken into account and for the scope of the package to be regulated with our proposals in a pluralistic, solution-oriented, and democratic manner. As you know, these changes can also be made in the commission. These changes can also be made in the General Assembly.

Dear press workers, as the DEM Party, we have never made any execution regulation a matter of bargaining until today. On the contrary, we have made great efforts on every platform for equal and fair execution regimes that cover all prisoners. However, in this law, there is neither a humanitarian step regarding sick prisoners nor legal equality regarding political prisoners. The current government continues to ignore the COVID Law, which it brought itself, by now calling it an "administrative measure." Yet, the texts put before the public and the ministry statements while this law was being enacted said everything very clearly. Let us state this clearly and plainly: The COVID Law was removed from this package as a result of the decisions and initiatives of the AKP. We express that we do not accept discourses that distort this fact and are outside of political ethics. We are on the side of every step that will ensure equality and justice in execution and resolve the grievances of more people.

As the DEM Party, we will continue to struggle until an execution regime is established that is applied equally to everyone, is based on fundamental human rights, acts with a sense of justice rather than revenge, and eliminates discrimination. Justice is not anyone's privilege; it is everyone's right. And now we call out to our people once again from here: We will not remain silent about this inequality. We will oppose the resolution of these deficiencies and inequalities with our loudest voice in the commission stage, in the General Assembly, and wherever we are. We will continue to defend social peace, the rule of law, justice, and equality. The DEM Party is determined to be the voice of the people's demand for justice and the prisoners in prisons, and to bring an honorable peace and a democratic order to this country.

News Source: 12punto