YENİ Party's Tanrıkulu calls for implementation of Constitutional Court and ECHR rulings following Silivri visit

YENİ Party Diyarbakır MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu made statements regarding the rule of law, democratization, and the implementation of judicial rulings following his visits to Marmara Prison in Silivri.

Tanrıkulu stated that he met with individuals including the imprisoned presidential candidate and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, elected TİP Hatay MP Can Atalay, who is imprisoned in the Gezi Park case, urban planner Tayfun Kahraman, Osman Kavala, and Van Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Bekir Kaya.

Stating that they discussed Turkey's democratization, the rule of law, the right to defense, and fair trial during his visits, Tanrıkulu said, "If the path to true social peace in Turkey is to be opened, let us begin. Let us start with the implementation of Constitutional Court (AYM) and European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings."

EMPHASIS ON CONSTITUTIONAL COURT AND ECHR RULINGS

Tanrıkulu reminded that there are European Court of Human Rights rulings regarding Osman Kavala and a Constitutional Court ruling for Can Atalay. He stated that the Constitutional Court ruling regarding Tayfun Kahraman has not been written for 4.5 months.

Arguing that there are no legal obstacles to the implementation of these rulings, Tanrıkulu claimed that the problem stems from political will. Tanrıkulu expressed that the judiciary "looks to politics" regarding the implementation of rulings.

Calling on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Tanrıkulu said, "Now he must pave the way for this himself. He must say, 'We need peace in Turkey. A law passed through parliament with a large majority. Now is the time for this,' so that the judiciary can move forward."

Arguing that trust in the judiciary has been seriously damaged, Tanrıkulu claimed that politicians, mayors, and their close circles are being kept under pressure through judicial processes. Tanrıkulu stated, "We are facing such a situation. We will overcome this difficult period."

In his assessment regarding the "Framework Law," Tanrıkulu stated that the regulation is related to disarmament and the end of conflict; however, the real issue is the rule of law and democratization in Turkey.

Tanrıkulu also reminded that the hearings for the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality case will continue in Silivri on August 17, and argued that the right to defense was violated in the previous hearing. He said they would monitor whether the right to defense is restored on Monday.

Describing the period until October as a "test period" for the government, Tanrıkulu expressed that steps must be taken regarding the implementation of Constitutional Court and ECHR rulings, ending the practice of appointing trustees, trial without detention, fair trial, and the right to defense.