Campaign launched for his release... Yılmaz Tunç's statement on Mahir Polat: Will a release decision be made?

Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç evaluated the allegations of strip searches and torture against students arrested during street protests, as well as CHP Chairman Özgür Özel's remarks, "Today, Turkey is governed by a junta that fears elections, its opponents, and the nation."

Highlights from Tunç's speech are as follows:

"The arrest of students is a situation none of us would want. Following the investigations, there were some street incidents upon the call of the CHP, and unpleasant situations occurred. There were cases referred to the courthouse. We know there are young people who have been detained. There are those whose detention continues. It is the prosecutor's office and the relevant courts that will evaluate this. It is our judiciary that will evaluate whether there was a violation of the law on meetings and demonstrations regarding the use of violence there. These files will be examined, and decisions will be made according to the situation.

RESPONSE TO STRIP SEARCH ALLEGATIONS

We must follow the judicial process. We are not in a position to say 'release these people.' These evaluations will be made in the coming days. There can be no search contrary to procedure. We have laws regarding penal institutions. There are situations valid under these regulations. There is no such thing as a strip search in our country, and it cannot be the case. The articles are clear. Here, such authority has been granted for prison security to prevent the entry of prohibited items, but this is an exceptional search, and in this case, the person's privacy is respected. The search is conducted by taking all kinds of precautions, such as having a person of the same gender conduct the search.

These are matters carried out in case of suspicion. There are different practices in many European countries. A situation like a strip search is out of the question. We are determined to have zero tolerance for torture. We made these regulations, and we are sensitive about this issue. If there is an example, the judiciary will pursue it.

Our people should not give credence to black propaganda as if there is torture through a smear campaign. There are cameras everywhere anyway. When such a finding is made, we immediately take the necessary interventions. Convicts are entrusted to our state. We attach importance to the right to the presumption of innocence and the confidentiality of the investigation. They need to be more careful in their publications. The place where allegations will be evaluated is the judicial authorities. They will use their necessary defense rights, and the judiciary will reach a verdict. We see that politicians are trying to divert the target without having any information about the allegations. These diversions do not affect the judiciary. Our judiciary uses the authority it receives from the nation and does not take instructions from any authority or body. As a result of the investigation, once the alleged acts and evidence emerge, it will be shared with the public. It is impossible for us to accept the expressions directed at our President through this investigation.

RESPONSE TO ÖZEL'S "JUNTA" REMARK

He called our President a junta leader; this is insolence. We return it to them. He is the person who won consecutive elections and served as prime minister for the longest time. He is the first leader to be elected with over 50 percent of the vote. During his time as both prime minister and president, he fought for the high-standard democracy of this country and did not give way to junta members. They should look at their own political history. It is the mentality that celebrates May 27 and celebrates the coup. It has been etched into the nation's memory like this. It is not anyone's place to say this to a leader who buried junta members in history, a political mentality that has protected tutelage supporters in all coup processes. There is an ongoing judicial investigation here.

WILL MAHIR POLAT BE RELEASED?

Detainees and convicts in penal institutions are entrusted to our state. They are provided for with all the state's resources. Article 109 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK) specifies how decisions will be made for those who cannot sustain their lives alone due to health conditions in prison. Here, a decision is made for the detainee with a full-fledged hospital report and forensic medicine approval. Our judiciary does not take instructions from anyone. Our judiciary is independent and impartial. The decision is made according to the file.

News Source: 12punto