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Investigation launched into lawyer who requested recusal of judges by citing secularism

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç announced on his social media account that an investigation has been launched into a lawyer who requested the recusal of judges on the grounds that they were wearing headscarves. Tunç stated, "Requesting a recusal on these grounds is a relic of the old Turkey mentality."

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Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç announced that an investigation has been launched into a lawyer who requested the recusal of the presiding judge and a member judge during a hearing in Ankara because they were wearing headscarves.

In a statement regarding the matter on his social media account, Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç said, "In a case heard at the Ankara 1st High Criminal Court, the defense lawyer's request for the recusal of the presiding judge and a member judge on the grounds that they were wearing headscarves is a relic of the old Turkey mentality.

Acting with the February 28 mentality that usurped the freedom of belief, education, and work of women does not befit a lawyer, who is a guarantor of the right to seek justice.

According to our Constitution, everyone has the freedom of conscience, religious belief, and conviction. Furthermore, according to our Constitution, no one can be condemned or accused due to their religious beliefs and convictions," he said.

"UNBECOMING BEHAVIOR"

Tunç stated, "Under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, numerous steps have been taken in our country over the last 22 years to lift bans and expand rights and freedoms, and the principle of 'positive discrimination' for women has also been made a constitutional rule during this period.

The participation of women in working life without any discrimination has also been realized during this period, even if it has bothered some. Turkish women stand out with their successes in our judiciary, just as they do in every field of working life. Our 8 thousand 871 female judges and prosecutors serving in our justice organization work selflessly all over our country for the manifestation of justice.

The unbecoming behavior of the lawyer has also deeply saddened all our female judges and prosecutors, whether they are veiled or unveiled.

Such incidents that treat women as second-class citizens and insult rights and freedoms are now a thing of the past. This attitude, adopted in our country where we have paved the way for fundamental rights and freedoms over the last 22 years, can never be accepted. An investigation has been launched by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the distressing incident," he said.