02.09.2025 13:51
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç commented on CHP leader Özgür Özel's statement, "Why are no actions taken regarding the allegations against AK Party municipalities; is a dual legal system being applied?" by saying, "Under what conditions is an investigation permit granted, and under what conditions is it not? Of course, Mr. Özel is a pharmacist. If he were a lawyer, he could make this distinction."
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Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç made a statement regarding the questions posed by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, asking, "Why is no action taken regarding the allegations against AK Party municipalities; is a dual legal system being operated?"
Tunç stated, "There is an ongoing judicial investigation. It started as a result of reports, beginning from the process of taking over the CHP Istanbul Provincial Presidency, which was reflected in the public with the emergence of money counting towers, and continued with reports and complaints related to allegations of irregularities in tenders, which also affected district municipalities, shaped by the statements of confessors. It is the primary duty of our prosecutors to investigate a crime in the face of a crime report."
"THERE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN THE ACT SITUATIONS IN CHP MUNICIPALITIES"
Tunç continued his remarks as follows:
"The judiciary is our judiciary. Of course, decisions can be criticized. Such criticisms are possible. However, if threatening and insulting phrases are used while criticizing, that is a different intention. We must wait for the course of the investigations. The indictment writing process is ongoing. Investigations are continuing. There have been situations where crimes were caught in the act at Manavgat Municipality. While investigations are ongoing in some CHP municipalities, there have also been caught in the act situations in other CHP municipalities.
Those who report are themselves, those who are confessors are themselves... The ones who will evaluate this are the impartial judiciary. We need to leave the judiciary alone. If there is corruption, and the public sees everything, the public will evaluate it. Everyone will learn the evidence and cases in the indictment. The process is ongoing; we cannot declare anyone guilty along with the indictment; the trial will begin. Individuals will defend themselves against the prosecutor's claims, and the judiciary will make a decision. This decision is also subject to the appeal process. Our judicial system is a three-tiered system."
"THERE IS NO DUAL LEGAL SYSTEM IN TURKEY"
"We will send our written responses regarding the written question proposal of the CHP Chairman. He says, is there a dual legal system in Turkey? No, friends, it is not possible to accept this. The Republic of Turkey is a constitutional state. It is a democratic rule of law. The rules of our constitution are in effect. The judiciary operates within the framework of these rules. There is no dual legal system in Turkey; there is a single legal system, which is the democratic legal system. This country has experienced a tutelary legal system in the past. Our democracy history has faced unfortunate events that we do not accept today, with coups. There was a judiciary that supported those memorandums, but now there is a democratic judiciary system that is free from tutelage and holds corruption accountable."
RESPONSE TO ÖZEL: 'HE IS A PHARMACIST...'
Tunç, regarding CHP leader Özgür Özel, stated, "The investigation permit requested from the Ministry of Justice is being granted. It is necessary to avoid expressions that do not undermine our justice system. It is a comprehensive investigation. There are many suspects. All of these are matters that take a certain amount of time. It is our hope that a healthy investigation will be conducted. Under what conditions is an investigation permit granted, and under what conditions is it not granted? Of course, Mr. Özel is a pharmacist. If he were a lawyer, he could make this distinction."
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