Eğitim-İş takes action: Criminal complaint filed against Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş

Participating in the 2024-2025 Academic Year opening ceremony at Gazi University in Ankara on October 10, Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş had argued that the phrase in Article 3 of the Constitution, "The state, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity," should be changed.

'VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION' AND 'MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE' CHARGES...

Reacting to Kurtulmuş's remarks, Eğitim-İş filed a criminal complaint with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for "violating the Constitution" and "misconduct in office." The petition for the criminal complaint stated, "The unchangeable articles of our Constitution represent the common will and independence of our nation. Attacks on these values require not only legal but also historical and social responsibility. These articles, which have not been opened for debate since the founding of the Republic, are a part of Atatürk's revolutions and form the foundations of our republic. Any threat to these fundamental values constitutes an attack on the sovereignty of the people and the integrity of our country," and requested that an investigation be launched into Kurtulmuş regarding these crimes and that a public lawsuit be filed against him.

Eğitim-İş members held a press statement in front of the Ankara Courthouse before filing the complaint. Eğitim-İş Chairman Kadem Özbay said, "Attacks on the founding principles of the Republic of Turkey and the unchangeable articles of our Constitution are absolutely unacceptable."

'WE ARE FILING CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS ALL ACROSS TURKEY'

Özbay stated the following:

"Today, as the Eğitim-İş organization across all of Turkey, we are in front of the courthouse in Ankara, along with our headquarters and Ankara branches, to file a criminal complaint regarding the words uttered by Numan Kurtulmuş—who holds a position that should be the most protective of the Republic's fundamental principles—concerning the indisputable and unamendable provisions of the Constitution, as he has made statements contrary to the founding principles and the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey. The Eğitim-İş organization is filing this criminal complaint at courthouses all across Turkey."

'WE ALL KNOW THESE STATEMENTS ARE NOT INDEPENDENT FROM THE PALACE'

Let us underline this once again here. Attacks on the founding principles of the Republic of Turkey and the unchangeable articles of our Constitution are absolutely unacceptable. Numan Kurtulmuş's statement that the phrase 'The state, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity' in Article 3 of the Constitution should be changed is a direct attack on our Republic and, at the same time, on the constitutional order. We are all aware that these statements were previously made by a deputy from HÜDA-PAR, a partner of the ruling power, and when we look at the current rhetoric, we know that these are not slips of the tongue or momentary remarks. We all know that there is an AKP government that has long wanted to open the Constitution to debate, and even open the unchangeable provisions of the Constitution to debate, and that these statements are not independent from the Palace or the President.

'LET THOSE WHO CREATE A "PERSONAL STATE" KNOW THAT...'

A system where the founding principles of the Republic of Turkey and its Constitution are ignored, and where its unchangeable provisions are attempted to be opened for debate, is not a Republic but a constitutional monarchy. Today, the current name of this system is the 'Personal State.' Those who dare to debate the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey are those who create the 'Personal State' and those who support them. The defenders of this system, where parliamentary representation and the will of the people are destroyed, are taking steps to dismantle the gains of the Republic. However, they must not forget this; the history of this nation is kneaded with the struggle for independence, with the Republic, and with Atatürk's revolutions. Every attempt to shake the foundations of the Republic is an attack not only on the sovereignty of the people but on the independence of our country. While Article 4 of our Constitution protects the flag, capital, and form of government of this country, it clearly states that the amendment of these principles cannot even be proposed. Attacks on these foundations mean not only a legal but also a historical and social betrayal. As Eğitim-İş, we are submitting our criminal complaint petitions all across Turkey today and holding our press statements in front of courthouse buildings to defend the fundamental principles of our Republic and protect the will of the people against Numan Kurtulmuş's words. We will never refrain from giving the harshest response to such attacks on the path to preserving the existence of the Republic of Turkey as a secular, democratic, and social state of law. Let those who create a 'Personal State' know that the Republic will live forever in these lands, and Atatürk's revolutions will be protected with an unshakable will.

'THE MAIN REASON IS TO OPEN THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY TO DEBATE'

Constitutions are not provisions or laws to be written by someone with a pen in their hand. Everyone knows how the unchangeable provisions of constitutions were written during wartime. Therefore, these attacks and rhetoric against the unchangeable provisions of the Constitution today are actually attacks against the Republic and the people. The main reason the AKP government and its partners use today's rhetoric is actually to open the fundamental principles of the Republic of Turkey to debate. We will never allow this. Those who engage in this debate will surely be held accountable for doing so. The Republic of Turkey will live forever. In this sense, Eğitim-İş will never take a step back from its struggle. We invite all citizens to show the harshest reaction."

News Source: 12punto