23.02.2025 09:00
The AK Party, which has initiated a partial amnesty, is expanding the scope of the regulation enacted during the coronavirus pandemic. If the regulation, which will be brought to the agenda of the Parliament, is approved, those who committed crimes before July 31, 2023, will also complete the remainder of their sentences outside under supervised release.
According to the news by Yücel Kayaoğlu from Türkiye Gazetesi, the scope of the regulation, which was enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic that affected the whole world and foresaw the execution of the remaining sentences of prisoners in open prisons under supervised release, is being expanded.
Since the supervised release regulation enacted in July 2023, there have been discussions about the law being contrary to the principle of equality in the constitution. This regulation allowed those who had five years or less remaining until their supervised release to serve their remaining time outside under supervised release. This facilitation, which covered those whose sentences were finalized before July 31, 2023, did not include those who committed crimes before that date but whose sentences had not yet been finalized. According to the information obtained, with the new regulation that the Ministry of Justice and the AK Party are also favoring, it is planned to include those who committed crimes before July 31, 2023, but whose sentences have not yet been finalized. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç recently indicated in a broadcast on TGRT News that a regulation could be made on this matter.
THE GOOD PARTY ALSO SUBMITTED A BILL
Opposition parties have been bringing up the need for a new step regarding the regulation known to the public as COVID leave for some time. There are also legislative proposals submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) on this matter. Most recently, the Good Party submitted a bill on the same issue. AK Party sources stated that if the parties reach a consensus during the discussions of the Judicial Package that will soon be on the TBMM agenda, an amendment could be made with a joint signature proposal.
CRITICAL DATE: JULY 31, 2023
If the regulation is accepted, those who committed crimes before July 31, 2023, will also complete their remaining sentences under supervised release. Those who have five years or less remaining until their supervised release will benefit from the regulation. Thus, provided that they committed crimes before July 31, 2023, those who have five years or less remaining until their supervised release will serve their remaining time under supervised release. The new regulation is referred to as a 'Partial Amnesty.' Only those whose sentences were finalized as of July 31, 2023, benefited from the previous regulation.
AK Party sources pointed out the validity of the discussions that the previous regulation was contrary to the principle of equality in the constitution, saying, "Imagine two people; they were tried in the same court and received the same sentences. But one of their sentences was finalized before July 31, 2023, while the other's was postponed. However, this delay is due to a delay in the judicial processes, not due to the individuals themselves. An injustice arises here. Therefore, the date of July 31, 2023, should be considered as the date of the crime committed, not the date the sentence was finalized. Universal legal principles require this," he said.
AK Party and Ministry of Justice sources stated that the number of those who will benefit from the new regulation is not yet known, saying, "The number of those who committed crimes before July 31, 2023, can be calculated, but there is no data on when their sentences will be finalized. Currently, a total number cannot be determined," they said.