Words that will anger Erdoğan! Former ally issues a warning: Calls for justice

Hüseyin Çelik, a former Minister of National Education and one of the founding members of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), has published a striking text titled "Call for Justice" alongside 19 others, including academics, legal experts, and former politicians. The statement emphasizes that the rule of law in Turkey has been "suspended," the independence of the judiciary has ended, and the rule of law has been replaced by arbitrary practices.

''IF THERE IS NO RULE OF LAW, THERE IS NO JUSTICE''

The text states, "Justice is possible through the rule of law. If there is no law, there is no justice, no peace, and no development." While reminding that the state derives its legitimacy from the law, it warns, "Injustice is a survival issue. The greatest harm that can be done to the state is for politics to interfere with the law."

''LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIARY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE EXECUTIVE''

The statement, which notes that the principle of separation of powers was abolished with the 2017 constitutional amendment, includes the following: "The person holding the executive power also effectively controls the legislative and judicial branches. This is clearly contrary to the principle of a democratic state governed by the rule of law."

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AYM AND ECHR RULINGS CRITICIZED

The text also criticizes the disregard for rulings by the Constitutional Court (AYM) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), as well as long periods of detention, arbitrary arrests, the appointment of trustees, and the use of statutory decrees (KHK). It emphasizes that these practices are contrary to international law and human rights.

The text calls for the release of sick and elderly prisoners, a serious investigation into allegations of ill-treatment and torture, and states that peace criminal judgeships should be abolished. It also expresses that arrests have turned into a tool for punishment and that judicial control is applied arbitrarily.

CALL FOR A PARTIAL AMNESTY

At the end of the text, it is proposed that a partial general amnesty be issued, excluding sexual crimes against women and children, as well as serious violence and drug trafficking. A call was made stating, "Those who have been arrested or convicted for political reasons should be released immediately."

Finally, the signatories of the call addressed the government and the opposition, warning: "We call on you to remain committed to the rule of law and the universal principles of justice. Because in a state not based on law, there is no security, peace, or development left."

The signatories of the text are as follows:

Abdulbaki Erdoğmuş – Former Member of Parliament for Diyarbakır, theologian

Ali Rıza Çoban – Assoc. Prof. Dr., legal expert

Bahattin Yücel – Former Minister of Tourism, historian, tourism professional

Beyhan Aslan – Former Member of Parliament for Denizli, legal expert

Doğu Ergil – Prof. Dr., sociologist

Erdal Türkkan – Prof. Dr., economist, competition law expert

Ertuğrul Günay – Former Minister of Culture and Tourism, legal expert

Ertuğrul Yalçınbayır – Former Deputy Prime Minister, legal expert

Figen Çalıkuşu – Lawyer, author

Hakan Tartan – Former Minister of Labor and Social Security, journalist, author

Haluk Özdalga – Former Member of Parliament for Ankara, engineer, author

Haşim Kılıç – Former President of the Constitutional Court

Helün Fırat – Businessperson, manager

Hüseyin Çelik – Prof. Dr., Former Minister of National Education

Mehmet Altan – Prof. Dr., economist

Sırrı Özbek – Former Member of Parliament for Istanbul, legal expert, author

Müslim Doğan – Former Minister of Development, engineer

Nesrin Nas – Former Member of Parliament for Istanbul, economist

Suat Kınıklıoğlu – Former Member of Parliament for Çankırı, international relations expert