First legal regulation of the 'Terror-Free Turkey' process passes the Justice Commission

The 12-article "Bill on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration," presented as the first legal step of the new resolution process that the government calls a "Terror-Free Turkey," has been accepted by the TBMM Justice Commission.

The proposal, which bears the signatures of 367 deputies including those from the AKP, CHP, MHP, DEM Party, HÜDA PAR, Yeni Yol Group, and DSP, envisions the postponement of investigations and prosecutions related to certain crimes for 5 to 10 years, the establishment of a Monitoring Commission within the TBMM, and the creation of a special board chaired by the Vice President.

Commission deliberations were marked by frequent debates due to the scope and political significance of the proposal. Commission Chairman Cüneyt Yüksel argued that the regulation does not constitute an amnesty as suggested in public discourse. Yüksel stated, "There is no regulation here that eliminates conviction rulings, changes the legal nature of crimes, or removes criminal liability."

AKP Group Deputy Chairman Abdulhamit Gül stated that the proposal was prepared with a broad political consensus, adding that the number of signatures signifies an "unprecedented historical consensus." MHP Deputy Chairman Feti Yıldız also expressed support for the regulation, stating, "We are behind a 'Terror-Free Turkey' to the end."

ÖCALAN DEBATE IN THE COMMISSION

One of the most tense topics of the deliberations was the debate surrounding Abdullah Öcalan. İYİ Party Group Deputy Chairman Uğur Poyraz, referring to the Commission Chairman's thanks to those who played a role in the process, said, "I suppose you left out the thanks to the terror convict in İmralı, Abdullah Öcalan, regarding his prescription and method." These remarks were met with reactions from the government benches.

The debate escalated during the speech of DEM Party Group Deputy Chairwoman Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit. Comparing the process to historical steps taken during the founding period of the Republic of Turkey, Koçyiğit said, "What is at stake is the future of Turkish-Kurdish relations." When Koçyiğit mentioned Öcalan among the names she thanked, alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, İYİ Party deputies reacted sharply.

The İYİ Party argued that the proposal effectively functions as an amnesty regulation and is unconstitutional, asserting that the regulation should first be addressed by the Constitutional Commission. The party's demands for the deliberations to be broadcast live and for the meeting to be held in a larger hall were not accepted.

The CHP and the Yeni Parti wing expressed their fundamental objections to the regulation through the lens of democratization. Yeni Parti Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir said, "The Kurdish issue cannot be solved without democratization," while CHP Group Deputy Chairman İnan Akgün Alp emphasized that the process must be carried out in tandem with democratization steps.

The consequences of the proposal in relation to the criminal justice system are also being evaluated alongside discussions regarding the prison population in Turkey. According to data shared by economist İnan Mutlu, as of August, 504 out of every 100,000 people in Turkey are in prison. Mutlu stated that this rate marks the highest level in Turkish history.

The proposal, which was accepted in the commission, is expected to come to the agenda of the Parliament General Assembly. While the regulation is defended by the government with the goal of social integration and the silencing of weapons, various wings of the opposition continue their criticisms based on the proposal's amnesty nature, constitutional dimension, and lack of democratization.

News Source: 12punto