Erdoğan's remarks on headscarved members of the judiciary: 'There will be digestion problems, but...'

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the Judicial and Administrative Judges and Public Prosecutors Draw Ceremony held at the Beştepe People's Congress and Culture Center.

Here are the highlights from Erdoğan's statements:

"Distinguished representatives of our legislative and judicial bodies, esteemed judges and prosecutors, I greet you with my most heartfelt feelings. I am pleased to host you at the Presidential Complex on the occasion of the Judicial and Administrative Judges and Public Prosecutors Draw Ceremony. I pray to the Almighty that our draw ceremony will lead to auspicious outcomes.

Turkey has captured a very different atmosphere as it has shed the democratic shames that pushed women out of life. As we have removed the obstacles standing before them, especially dress code bans, women have begun to become more visible in public bureaucracy. However, we see that some circles have not yet been able to adapt to this change. We all witness from time to time instances of intolerance that cross the boundaries of decency and morality regarding our headscarved members of the judiciary. I would like to state that we observe these reactions only with deep regret. Turkey has left these behind, and it must leave them behind.

It may take some time, there will be digestion problems, but I hope everyone will accept the new Turkey where freedoms are applied equally to everyone. Everyone will get used to them taking their place honorably in different areas of life, without distinction between public and private.

I would like to remind my young friends who are waiting for the draw with great excitement of a few points; My dear young brothers and sisters, you will begin your duties as a result of the draws to be held shortly, and you will serve as soldiers of justice in every corner of the country. You will not work as someone who just takes their salary and retreats to their corner, or gets in their car and goes home when their shift ends; you will work as children of the homeland with free consciences, free minds, and free hearts for justice and for the manifestation of justice.

It is certain that justice is the axis of our state and social order. Its presence is the highest virtue, and its absence is a disaster for social life. As a requirement of our faith, we say that sovereignty belongs to God; we also accept justice as the foundation of sovereignty. Our number of judges and prosecutors, which was 9 thousand 349 in 2002, will reach 26 thousand 803 with the draws we will hold shortly.

We have shortened the closing time of files in the judiciary, and we have left many European countries behind in this area. Now, both our judicial and administrative courts resolve cases very quickly. According to the reports of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice, the average duration of case processing in administrative courts in our country is 168 days. This duration is 314 days in France, 308 days in Germany, and 574 days in Italy. While the duration of case processing in regional administrative courts is 136 days in our country, it is 325 days in Spain, 329 days in France, and 460 days in Germany. Turkey has reached this stage with great devotion.