Swoboda says HSYK legislation an outright attack on rule of law


Date posted: February 19, 2014

BRUSSELS

Brussels’ strong criticism of a new law in Turkey restructuring the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) continues, with statements being made by various EU officials.

Socialist Group leader and one of the most veteran politicians of the European Parliament Hannes Swoboda harshly reacted to the new law on the HSYK. Swoboda said the law was an outright attack on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.

Speaking to Today’s Zaman, Swoboda said the new law was deeply worrying for the European Union. Not bothering to mince his words, the Austrian politician said it was unthinkable in a democracy for the appointment of judges and prosecutors to not be protected from political interests.

“It is inconceivable in a democracy that the appointment of judges and prosecutors is not distinguished from political interests and actors,” he said.

Stressing that the law would not be in line with EU legislation, he warned President Abdullah Gül on the possible repercussions that the law would have on EU-Turkey relations if he approves the legislation. “I do not see how this law could be compatible with EU legislation or how it will be constructive in furthering Turkey’s EU integration process if President Gül signs it into law,” he said.

Swoboda also pointed out that, as a socialist, he had supported the Sept. 12, 2010 referendum in Turkey which had restructured the HSYK despite the harsh criticism he received from his sister party, the Turkish opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). “When the proposal seemed realistic and constructive, I supported the referendum of September 2010. But now this law has mutated into an outright attack on the independence of the judiciary and therefore the rule of law,” the Socialist leader said.

Swoboda had accused Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of using the Hizmet movement as an excuse to backtrack on reforms when Erdoğan visited Brussels on Jan. 21 and met with the leaders of political groups in the European Parliament. During the meeting, Swoboda had also criticized the government’s initiative to change the HSYK.

Watson: Gül’s image will be affected

In the meantime, Liberal Democrat member Sir Graham Watson said the perception of President Gül in Brussels would be negatively affected if he approves the legislations on the Internet and the HSYK.

Speaking at a conference jointly organized by the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Brussels, Watson once again called on President Gül to exercise caution.

Watson said he had already sent a letter to Gül asking him not to sign the Internet legislation. Gül however approved the Internet legislation on Tuesday night.

Commenting on the parallel state rhetoric used by Erdoğan and his government to explain ongoing corruption charges, Watson said no one in Brussels was convinced by this argument.

Source: Todays Zaman , February 19, 2014


Related News

Why did Turkey seize Bank Asya?

In September 2014, in an address to the Turkish Industry and Business Association, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the following statement: “No effort is underway to cause the bankruptcy of a bank. That bank is already bankrupt. They are carrying water by hand to keep it afloat.”

Erdoğan calls critics, civil movements ‘traitors,’ threatens investors

Graham Watson, the president of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and the former chairman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the EP also criticized Erdoğan for using hate speech against Hizmet.

Reactions snowball after PM likens Hizmet members to Hashishin

According to Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy Özcan Yeniçeri “The Hashishin was a separatist organization that inflicted great damage on the Turkish nation. Their purpose was to divide the nation and disrupt peace. The Hizmet movement, on the other hand, is a civilian initiative that strives for Turkey not to be divided and for youths not to fall into the hands of the terrorist PKK. For us, the real Hashishin are the separatists. If the prime minister is looking for a Hashishin, he should look into the mirror,”

‘We will not learn how to struggle against corruption from you’

It has already been 10 days that Turkey has been shaking with the corruption scandal that has reshuffled the Cabinet and brought serious international consequences to the country, such as weakening the political position of Ankara in the neighborhood of Syria and Iran and strained ties with the US.

Gülen movement acted ‘courageously’ when gov’t-involved graft revealed, Altan says

Ahmet Altan, the former editor-in-chief of the Taraf daily, has said that the Gülen movement acted “courageously” during the public revelations of the Dec. 17, 2013 corruption scandal that implicated several senior members of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government.

Gülen movement makes Turkey more noticeable

FATİH VURAL/TUĞBA KAPLAN, İSTANBUL A sociologist who has studied the faith-based Gülen movement of Turkey extensively has said the movement helps other countries in the world to become more aware of Turkey. Helen Rose Ebaugh, the author of “The Gülen Movement: A Sociological Analysis of a Civic Movement Rooted in Moderate Islam,” was in İstanbul […]

Latest News

Fethullah Gülen’s Condolence Message for South African Human Rights Defender Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Hizmet Movement Declares Core Values with Unified Voice

Ankara systematically tortures supporters of Gülen movement, Kurds, Turkey Tribunal rapporteurs say

Erdogan possessed by Pharaoh, Herod, Hitler spirits?

Devious Use of International Organizations to Persecute Dissidents Abroad: The Erdogan Case

A “Controlled Coup”: Erdogan’s Contribution to the Autocrats’ Playbook

Why is Turkey’s Erdogan persecuting the Gulen movement?

Purge-victim man sent back to prison over Gulen links despite stage 4 cancer diagnosis

University refuses admission to woman jailed over Gülen links

In Case You Missed It

Ethiopian President receives Ethio-Turkish schools delegation

A serious question for a respected newspaper

To save itself, Turkish govt stabs hard-won democracy

Kosovo’s Parliament supports commission to probe deportation of six Turks

Fethullah Gulen, the man rushing to put out the fire

Al-Jazeera: Turkish probe marks AKP-Gulen power struggle

Turkish coup was Erdogan ‘gift’

Copyright 2023 Hizmet News