Former Parliament Speakers call for 'trial without detention' for İmamoğlu

Led by former CHP Chairman and Parliament Speaker Hikmet Çetin; Ahmet Hüsamettin Cindoruk, Cahit Karakaş, and Mustafa Kalemli have issued a call for Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu to be tried without detention. 

In the text shared on social media by journalist Hilal Köylü, the 4 former TBMM Speakers stated, "The greatest obstacle to those in power deviating from justice and harming society is the Democratic State of Law and the principles of Universal Law," and penned the following:

"THE RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL IS THE GREATEST GUARANTEE FOR ALL CITIZENS"

"Universal principles of law necessitate the rule of law in every area of social life. The rule that stands at the forefront of these principles and is included in the unchangeable provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, secured by the article 'The Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular, and social state of law,' which states that 'the law must be applied equally to everyone, and the judiciary that will apply the law must be independent and impartial,' and therefore the 'Right to a Fair Trial' is the greatest guarantee for all citizens.

EMPHASIS ON 'TRUST IN THE JUDICIARY'

Where the judiciary is not independent, one cannot speak of justice, law, the rule of law, or living in security, because in such cases, decisions are not made by the judiciary, but by the powers to which it is beholden. Furthermore, investigations and trials must be based on concrete evidence and must not wound the conscience of society. The opposite situation shakes trust in the judiciary. Where there is no trust in the judiciary, one cannot speak of a sustainable economy or peace and security in any area of life.

"STRANGE DECISION"

The most typical example of the many unlawful actions taken by the government against many opposition politicians, both by using its power in the administration and through a judiciary that has lost its independence and impartiality, is what has been done to Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is also recognized and closely followed by the world public. Mr. İmamoğlu, who was elected Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality three times by increasing his votes in every election he entered, suddenly had his diploma, which he received from Istanbul University thirty-one years ago, canceled by the same University Board of Directors after he announced that his party would determine its Presidential candidate through a primary election and while he had begun domestic promotional tours to announce his candidacy. This strange decision by Istanbul University has been justifiably and vehemently criticized by all effective legal experts in our country.

"THE FACT THAT THE DIPLOMA CANCELLATION DECISION HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT"

The fact that Istanbul University's diploma cancellation decision has not been notified to Mr. İmamoğlu to date is also significant.

As if this illegality were not enough, immediately afterward, just one day before the day his party was to hold a primary election, Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu was detained on allegations of "having ties to terrorist organizations and engaging in corruption." He was arrested on the grounds of "engaging in corruption" based on the abstract statements of "secret witnesses" whose origins and how they were obtained are unknown.

DEMAND FOR 'TRIAL WITHOUT DETENTION'

As in contemporary legal systems, detention is regulated in our Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure not as a punishment, but as a measure. Detention is a measure foreseen only for suspects for whom there are serious suspicions and concrete evidence that they have committed a crime, and who also have a possibility of fleeing. Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu is a figure known and recognized not only in our country but also by the world public, whose position and address are known. It is impossible to accept the possibility of such a person in such a position fleeing.

As former Speakers of the TBMM, we share with the entire public our demand that the rule of law be established in our country, that it be applied equally to everyone, that judicial independence and impartiality be ensured, and that trial without detention be taken as the basis, in order to prevent further damage to our country's status as a 'democratic state of law' and its economy, and we present our respects to everyone."

News Source: 12punto