13.02.2025 15:50
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç responded to the points raised in the presentation at the TÜSİAD Ordinary General Assembly and to YİK Chairman Ömer Aras's statement that "Some of the events that occurred in a very short time have caused concern in society and shaken trust." Minister Tunç stated, "Turkey is not the Turkey of the past. No institution is above the law."
TÜSİAD's ordinary general assembly held today started with a striking presentation. The slide titled 'Extraordinary Events in Political Life' included the arrest of Ümit Özdağ, the leader of the Victory Party, the initiation of an investigation against Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the arrest of manager Ayşe Barım, who is under investigation for 'monopolization' claims related to the Gezi Park protests, and the arrest of Suat Toktaş, the General Director of HALK TV, as well as issues concerning young lieutenants expelled from the army.
"THE EVENTS HAVE SHAKEN PUBLIC CONFIDENCE"
While the mentioned slide drew significant attention, TÜSİAD High Advisory Council President Ömer Aras stated in his speech, "Newly graduated lieutenants are being expelled from the army. We cannot say whether there is guilt in these events or not. However, we can say that the series of events occurring in a very short time has created concern in society and shaken public confidence. Additionally, we see that a chronic problem, such as pre-trial detention becoming the rule rather than the exception, has not been resolved even if laws change," he expressed.
JUSTICE MINISTER TUNÇ'S FIRST RESPONSE TO TÜSİAD
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç reacted to the messages given by TÜSİAD. In a statement made on his X account, Minister Tunç said, "The Republic of Turkey is a state of law. No institution, organization, or interest group is above the national will. One of the cornerstones of our democratic system is the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary.
It should be well known that we do not accept any pressure on judicial processes, and we are against any attempts to influence the judiciary. While it is certainly a democratic right for civil society organizations to express their opinions, efforts to direct the judiciary and politics are contrary to the spirit of democracy and the principle of the rule of law.
"NO INSTITUTION CAN SEE ITSELF ABOVE THE LAW"
Democracy is not just the common trust of certain circles, but of the entire nation and state. Turkey is not the Turkey of the past. Those who do not understand that the Turkey directed by privileged groups is now behind us should know this; No one or no institution can see itself above the will of the nation and the law.
There should be no doubt that we will respond to any attempt to interfere with the legal order, as we have done until now, in the strongest way within the framework of the law," he stated.