Lawyer Hüseyin Ersöz speaks on Yorum12: 'The President wants to run for a 3rd term'

In Yorum12, which hosts experts in their fields every week, journalist Betül Begümhan Aydoğan hosted lawyer Hüseyin Ersöz. Ersöz provided striking responses regarding Turkey's agenda.

Responding to Aydoğan, who noted that the Gezi protests are now 11 years old, when she asked, "What does Gezi mean to you?", Ersöz replied as follows:

"It is carried out as a series of actions within the scope of the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations. When we look at the initial starting point, you see that it began very peacefully, with university or high school students coming and taking an initiative specifically to ensure that a new building was not constructed in that area, and that it remained a green space; that it remained as Gezi Park. I see no problem with its inception. After a while, an intervention took place there by the police and the tents were demolished. Afterwards, of course, some marginal groups may have opened banners and chanted slogans, but this does not change the fact that these actions were lawful and the purpose of their origin.

The political power turned to the question, 'Why did these young people adopt such an approach?' and they met with Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was the Prime Minister at that time. At the end of that meeting, using the term 'our Prime Minister,' they actually explained their grievances and what they were reacting to to the Prime Minister. Years later, lawsuits were filed against them and they were put on trial. They faced accusations of attempting a coup against the person they called 'our Prime Minister'."

WHAT IS THE FORMULA FOR THEIR RELEASE?

Referring to Abdulkadir Selvi's columns, Ersöz spoke about the release of Osman Kavala or other Gezi detainees, saying, "It can certainly fall within the scope of normalization. The case we call the Gezi trial is a process where violations of fair trial are discussed. It is necessary to mention that there is a political influence, and on the other hand, violations of fair trial and violations of freedom rights in the legal order. This normalization must take place while remaining within the boundaries of the law and keeping legal principles in mind."

"THIS PERIOD IS WORSE"

Comparing the past with today, Ersöz stated that he has looked at cases like Ergenekon and Balyoz, but that there have never been times as bad as today, conveying it with these words:

"I took part in the Balyoz, Ergenekon, and the trial where Boğaziçi University academics were tried. But if we were to make a comparison within this entire process, I would say that the period we are in is much worse. When we consider the Ergenekon and Balyoz cases, fake evidence was produced for people. To associate people with this evidence, it was either loaded onto their computers or left on CDs. There was a three-legged plan. Because there were those who produced these fake documents, those who carried them, and those who moved them into the judicial process. When we look at today, there is no need for even that; there are events where people are detained and arrested based on newspaper headlines, a single news report, or a single press release, through a complete 'cut-and-paste' approach with evaluations that are not very legal, and where ECHR decisions are ignored."

Regarding the new constitution, Ersöz said, "The President wants to be President for a 3rd time. Since he cannot say 'I want to be re-elected, therefore I must change the constitution,' he says 'this is a coup constitution.' I think this is being used as a pretext."

Regarding the possibility of a softening in politics, Ersöz stated, "The President's ability to run again is actually linked to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) making a decision for early elections. The parliamentary majority does not allow for this. The AKP and MHP cannot decide this alone. Other parties are also needed. I think the reason for the normalization carries meaning at this point."

Regarding the draft law on stray animals, Ersöz concluded his remarks by saying, "It was said that dogs would first be put up for adoption, and those that could not be adopted would be put to sleep. After the reactions, it is now being said that they will be cared for in shelters rather than being put to sleep. This issue has not gained clarity. Dogs can sometimes pose a problem. Those who want dogs to be put to sleep are hiding behind these justifications. I think that the right to life should not be touched so easily today."

News Source : 12punto