01.09.2025 23:49
In his speech at the opening ceremony of the 2025-2026 Judicial Year, Supreme Court President Ömer Kerkez stated, "I believe that our penal execution regime needs to be reorganized with a perspective that aligns with the expectations of society. Because, in our country, there has been a serious perception that the punishment is not being adequately enforced, rather than the amount of the punishment itself."
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Participants in the 2025-2026 Judicial Year Opening Ceremony held at the İsmail Rüştü Cirit Conference Hall of the Court of Cassation included the President of the Court of Cassation Ömer Kerkez, Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, President of the Turkish Bar Association (TBB) Erinç Sağkan, as well as judiciary members and guests.
TBB PRESIDENT SAĞKAN: THE PRECONDITION FOR STRENGTHENING NATIONAL UNITY AND SOLIDARITY IS RESPECT FOR THE CONSTITUTION
In his opening speech, TBB President Sağkan stated, "We express that we find it very valuable to work towards removing terrorism from our country's agenda and ensuring social integration. As the Turkish Bar Association, we had the opportunity to convey our views and suggestions to the National Solidarity Brotherhood and Democracy Commission established under the roof of the gazi parliament in line with the 'Terror-Free Turkey' process. We talked about the importance of steps that will expand the area of fundamental rights and freedoms that embrace the entire society and strengthen democracy on the basis of the rule of law. As the Turkish Bar Association, we believe that today the precondition for strengthening national unity and solidarity is respect for the constitution and ensuring the minimum guarantees contained in the constitution," he said.
"WE STAND BY THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE"
Condemning the crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Palestine, Sağkan stated, "We find the request to intervene in the genocide case opened at the International Court of Justice regarding the crimes committed by Israel against humanity in Gaza as very appropriate, as much as our country's efforts to strengthen national unity and brotherhood. As the Turkish Bar Association, which has personally applied to the International Criminal Court with concrete evidence that the massacres of Israel carry the specific intent of genocide, we express that we are ready to provide all kinds of legal support on this matter. We stand by the people of Palestine against the policies of occupation and isolation," he stated.
PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF CASSATION KERKEZ: EACH OF OUR DUTIES SHOULD BE TO CLEARLY STAND ON THE SIDE OF GOOD AND JUSTICE
Following Sağkan, President of the Court of Cassation Kerkez stated, "Since the beginning of humanity, there has always been a struggle between good and evil everywhere and at all times. This struggle, which began with the fight between the first representatives of good and evil, Abel and Cain, has continued to this day. In this struggle between the right and the wrong, the victim and the criminal, the duty of each of us as human beings should clearly be to stand on the side of good and justice," he said.
"THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE ARE RIGHTFUL, VICTIMS, AND OPPRESSED"
Stating that the struggle between good and evil, the rightful and the unjust, the victim and the criminal is most intensely experienced in Gaza today, President Kerkez said, "Here, the rightful, victim, and oppressed are the people of Palestine. The unjust, criminal, and tyrant is Israel. Remaining silent against the tyranny of the oppressor is almost as painful as the tyranny itself. No belief, thought, or justification can justify displacing, starving, and killing defenseless people, women, and especially children. I sincerely wish that the world and humanity come to their senses as soon as possible and that this humanitarian tragedy, collective massacres, and genocide come to an end. I condemn Israel with hatred for its inhumane attitude," he stated.
"THE EXECUTION REGIME SHOULD BE REORGANIZED"
Emphasizing that the number of cases at the Court of Cassation has dropped to 300,000, President Kerkez stated, "For a high court, a case number of 300,000 is a terrifying figure. Our efforts to minimize the waiting times of cases continue. Since the last judicial year opening, over 313,000 cases have been resolved in our Court of Cassation. Therefore, I congratulate and thank our valuable general assembly, our department heads, our members of the Court of Cassation, our esteemed rapporteur judges, and our prosecutors for their outstanding efforts. One of the biggest issues that wounds social justice is the perception of the inadequacy of penalties. I believe that our execution regime should be reorganized with a perspective that meets the expectations of society. Because in our country, there is a serious perception that it is not the amount of the penalty that matters, but that this penalty is not sufficiently executed," he expressed, wishing that the new judicial year would bring good fortune.
Source: AA / İHA
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