Turkey: New Judicial Year Begins

Speaking to the gathering, High Court of Appeals head Eraslan Ozkaya said, “People seeking unlimited freedom of belief and conscience share the selfsame aim as those wanting to establish an Islamic state.” Turkish Bar Association (TBB) Chairman Ozdemir Ozok, meaniwhile, stressed the need for reform of the judicial system and decried the judiciary’s inadequate share of the national budget. Commenting on Eraslan’s speech, Erdogan told reporters that his remarks had shown “an ugly and negative stance.” Meanwhile, Sezer, a former Constitutional Court chief justice, sent a message to the Court of Appeals to mark the new judicial year. Remarking that the rule of law along with its organizations and regulations was a pillar of today’s modern democratic regimes. Sezer pointed to the importance of a free and independent judiciary. “Judicial decisions are binding not only on the people but also on the rulers and administrative organs,” added the president.