Urfa Bar President Abdullah Öncel made evaluations on the 70-item "Law on the Execution of Criminal and Security Measures and the Amendment to Some Laws".  Noting that the law cannot be enacted according to the "crime and criminal", said they say this is law proposal on the execution but this clearly is an amnesty.

 

Pointing out that many segments of the society demands the law to include all prisoners, said: "We expect the bill to be enacted so as to cover everyone, relieve the conscience of the society, meet the demands of the society and also include the accusations under the scope of 'terrorism' crimes. But it seems that the government and the MHP bloc are designing this law to cover some crimes."

 

'A NEW DESCRIPTON OF TERROR MUST BE MADE'

 

Öncel, stating that the political power turned the country into an 'open prison' and telling that the government is trying to design the country with punishment, said Turkey is in a dead end in terms of democracy and the freedom of expression and that we need to overcome this deadend. Referring to the attempts of HDP and CHP against the inequality in the execution arrangement, Öncel said: "But it seems that the political power will limit this bill to include only the crimes against individuals. Many years ago, the current President had said that the state would run amnesty only on crimes against the state. He stated that the crimes against individuals would not be granted amnesty. Now he is doing the opposite. This scope can be extended. It should include the crimes of thought, the lawyers, academicians."

 

Öncel pointed out that the concept of "terrorism" in the TMK is ambiguous, and said: "It should be redefined accordingly with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) legal precedents.

 

Emphasizing that the coronavirus (Kovid-19) epidemic has made prisons where 300,000 prisoners are held in an immediate risk, said the possible spread of the virus in prisons will lead to a disaster. Öncel added that the new regulations violates the right to life.

 

Öncel lastly mentioned the situation of the lawyers who are members of the Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD), who turned their hunger strike actions into a death fast. Reminding that the lawyers were arrested immediately after being released, said: "An anonymous witness whom you don't know comes forward and testify and that testimony is enough to get you arrested. This is the system in Turkey. ÇHD President Selçuk Kozağaçlı was arrested with this system. They didn't even listen to their defense. Everything was prepared in advance.  The demand of Selçuk and his friends is to be judged fairly. Just like Helin Bölek. The fact that people try to make a point risking their lives, must make the decision makers to consider once again. The obstacles in front of the democratization of Turkey needs to be eliminated. We need the rule of law. People don't trust in the justice system. Everyone is in fear. You became a terrorist when you speak your mind."