President Erdoğan: Even if you are an opposition leader, you cannot wag your finger at the judiciary

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements at the "Judicial Reform Strategy Introduction Meeting" held at the Beştepe Nation's Congress and Culture Center.

Here are the highlights from Erdoğan's speech:

ONCE AGAIN, A MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE FOR BOLU

"My dear nation, distinguished representatives of our legislative and judicial bodies, I greet you with my most heartfelt feelings. On your behalf, I convey my greetings and love to the members of the judiciary who serve selflessly in every corner of our country. I pray for God's mercy upon our 78 citizens who lost their lives in Bolu and offer my condolences to their families. I also pray to my Lord for the healing of our 10 brothers and sisters who are still undergoing treatment.

Welcome to this veteran venue. I hope that the fourth judicial reform will be auspicious for our justice organization and our country. I thank those who contributed. We are the heirs of a tradition that sees justice as the foundation of the state.

"WE HAVE TRANSITIONED FROM THE RULE OF THE SUPERIOR TO A FAIR JUDICIAL SYSTEM"

These lands, which we have kneaded with rights and law for a thousand years, are the closest witnesses to our high sense of justice, which we have nurtured with goodness and virtue from east to west. The fast and effective functioning of all elements of our justice system concerns every member of our nation closely. We emphasize at every opportunity that justice must be served in a timely manner, just as much as its effectiveness. The preservation of the reputation of the judicial authority is above all other considerations for us. We have shown great sensitivity to this issue since 2002. A transition has been achieved from a tutelary structure where the rule of the superior prevailed to a fair judicial system. The privileges of some people before the law due to their political and ideological identities have been left behind.

"NO ONE CAN WAG THEIR FINGER AT THE JUDICIARY"

Regardless of which false perception it stems from, those who see themselves as untouchable before the law will learn that no one is superior. Everyone must account for their actions to the independent Turkish courts. No one can threaten members of the judiciary, exert pressure, or wag their finger at our judiciary. As a country that has lost members of the judiciary to terrorism in the past, we do not approve of judicial members being targeted along with their families. You may criticize a judicial decision, but even if you are the main opposition, you cannot make inappropriate threats against legal professionals. We will not allow this, and our judiciary, which is being targeted, will not allow it either.

"WE AIM FOR TRIALS TO BE COMPLETED ON TIME"

Today, we are before you with the 4th judicial reform strategy document. The strategies in which we implement deep-rooted changes are complementary to each other. This document is a complement to other reform documents. With this document, we aim to strengthen judicial independence and impartiality, ensure that trials are completed on time and within a reasonable period, create a predictable justice system, increase efficiency, raise trust and satisfaction, strengthen the effectiveness and deterrent nature of the criminal justice system, and achieve digital transformation.

In previous periods, we carried out significant reforms regarding the right to a fair trial. We aim to further strengthen the means of seeking rights. We are implementing new victim-oriented policies. It is of great importance that disputes are resolved at their source.

"WE AIM FOR APPEALS TO BE CONCLUDED IN 6 MONTHS"

With a vision of justice that is based on the rule of law and does not suffer from delays, we will build an effective justice system with the new strategy document. We will accelerate efforts for a new, civilian, conciliatory, and libertarian constitution. With the new human rights action plan, we will ensure more effective protection of rights and freedoms. We will strengthen the structure and compatibility of our individual right-seeking institutions. We will reinforce new ways of seeking rights with various measures and practices. We will reorganize the organizational structure. We will increase the number of courts and ensure that some courts with a single judge work as a panel. We aim for appeals to be concluded in 6 months.

"WE WILL ENSURE THAT APPELLATE REVIEWS ARE CONCLUDED IN 6 MONTHS"

We will also ensure that appellate reviews are concluded in 6 months. In some cases, direct appeal reviews will be conducted without appellate review. We will ensure that processes are completed more effectively and quickly.

New specialized courts will be established for types of cases. We aim to update the Attorneyship Law. We will provide internship support to our intern lawyers.

With the new regulations, we will ensure that hearings are not postponed for more than 2 months. Another goal of ours is for files that have been remanded to be heard as a priority.

"WE WILL INTRODUCE NOTARY ASSISTANTSHIP TO THE SYSTEM"

In the new period, we will also develop inspection practices to increase performance. We will introduce a mandatory electronic notification system. We will renew the Notary Law and introduce notary assistantship to the system as a new institution where law school graduates will serve.

We will gradually increase the success ranking required for entry into law schools. We will restructure the judge and prosecutor assistantship process. We will reconsider the regional system in the appointment and transfer legislation. We will increase the number of personnel receiving training.

"WE WILL INCREASE PENALTIES FOR FIRING GUNS INTO THE AIR"

We aim to increase the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. We will regulate the balance between crime, sanction, and execution in accordance with the principle of protecting rights and freedoms. We will regulate the criminal justice system with new sanctions that are alternatives to custodial sentences. We will take deterrent measures against those who endanger traffic. We will implement sanctions such as the confiscation of driver's licenses for those who get out of their vehicles with the intent to attack.

We are significantly increasing the penalties for firing guns at mass events such as engagements, weddings, and military send-offs. Within the scope of the right not to be stigmatized, we will restructure the judicial registry system and shorten the deletion periods. We will make different arrangements in favor of children. We will implement a restorative justice system for children. We will increase the production volume of prison workshops.

"WE ARE INCREASING PENALTIES FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE ENVIRONMENT"

We are increasing the penalties for the crime of establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes, as well as crimes committed against bodily integrity, liberty, and the environment.

We had declared 2025 as the year of the family. We had announced that we would carry out important work throughout the year. We will implement many measures regarding problems arising from practice in family law. We plan to make new reforms ranging from the establishment and trial procedures of family courts to divorce and alimony procedures."

News Source: 12punto