The Diyarbakır Bar Association made a statement in front of the courthouse in the city to mark the new judicial year.
Numerous lawyers participated in the press briefing in front of the Diyarbakır Courthouse. Nahit Eren, head of the city's bar association, remarked that the problems with the judiciary continued to increase.
Eren stated that there has been a serious loss of trust in the impartiality and independence of the judiciary; “In Turkey, the independence and impartiality of the judiciary has always been a subject of discussion. However, as we have stated repeatedly, in a democratic society based on the rule of law, the most fundamental guarantee of the individual and society is an independent and impartial judiciary.”
“While the members of the judiciary performing judicial practices in accordance with government policies have been rewarded and promoted, those issuing decisions that disturb the government have been relocated to other cities,” Eren added.
“The judiciary should be independent from the state and government as well as from any official or unofficial ideological or political thought and religious tendencies.”
Eren also addressed the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) that are not implemented by Turkish courts and the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. He emphasized that government intervention in fundamental rights and freedoms continued without interruption.
Eren raised concern over the maltreatment in Turkey’s prisons. “The most basic human right is the right to life. This right cannot be restrained or suspended under any circumstances.”
Referring to the government crackdown on the Kurdish language, Eren said, “The Kurdish identity and the use of the Kurdish language have recently been subjected to hate speeches and attacks. Since the use of violence and polarizing language pave the way for hateful and racist attacks, we urge the judiciary to combat hate speech and attacks against the use of the Kurdish language.”
Eren emphasized that lawyers are the guarantee of an independent judiciary, stressing that they did not remain silent despite pressures, threats and trials against them. He demanded an end to the economic and physical violence against lawyers.[1]