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4th judicial reform package accepted, no release for KCK prisoners

11 April 2013 20:58 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. With Parliament on Thursday approved first 12 articles of the fourth judicial reform package, which mainly aims to do away with violations of human rights, ensure fair trials, expand the boundaries of freedom of expression and prevent lengthy detentions and trials, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin said new package does not suggest release of the prisoners in court cases related to the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), APA reports quoting Todays Zaman.

Parliament on Thursday continued deliberations regarding the 4th Judicial Package, which introduces new judicial reforms, shortly after it adopted a change that no longer makes it a terror crime to print statements of terrorist organizations and attend unauthorized demonstrations.

The package submitted by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) sparked questions over whether it could pave way for release of prisoners in KCK and Ergenekon cases.

The General Assembly discussed the new terror bill in a session on Thursday. The deputies voted on the bill article by article and late on Wednesday night they adopted a motion that decriminalizes printing and spreading statements by terrorist organizations or attending illegal demonstrations in support of organizations defined as terrorist groups. This change was accepted during a vote on Articles 7 and 8.

Previously, if one promoted the cause of a terrorist organization by spreading its statements or participating in its demonstrations even if they are not a member of it, they would be tried on charges of membership of a terrorist organization. With changes to the law, such individuals will no longer be tried for membership of a terrorist organization.

Speaking to reporters in Parliament following the voting, Justice Minister Ergin said the newly accepted articles do not suggest release of the KCK prisoners, in response to a question asked by a journalist.

Ergin pointed out that KCK prisoners are being tried over charges of founding or being members of the armed terrorist organization, according to the Article No: 314 in the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Ergin said the new reform package’s legal scope does not include KCK prisoners, dismissing news reports suggesting that the suspects who are jailed pending trial in the KCK case could be released with adoption of the fourth judicial reform package.