Turkey's Justice System Needs Reform

Amnesty International has released a damning report entitled "Turkey: The Entrenched Culture of Impunity Must End". In it, Amnesty outlines the country's persistent violations of human rights and a lack of willingness to deal with the problem. By Mark Caldwell

Amnesty International has released a damning report entitled "Turkey: The Entrenched Culture of Impunity Must End". In it, Amnesty outlines the country's persistent violations of human rights and a lack of willingness to deal with the problem. Mark Caldwell reports

​​Amnesty says victims of human rights violations in Turkey are still being denied justice. In addition, abuses perpetrated by the security forces are met with 'persistent impunity', says Amnesty spokesman Andrew Gardner:

"What we mean by the term impunity is the ineffectiveness to investigate and prosecute and to obtain convictions for grave violations of human rights. By grave abuses we could mean torture, ill-treatment, killing or enforced disappearance. What we are saying is that there is a de facto culture of impunity in Turkey that means that perpetrators of these violations so many times do not receive punishment."

Entrenched culture of impunity

Amnesty says this entrenched culture of impunity must end. It also refers to trials in Turkey in which statements were extracted under torture, and to a lack of progress in investigating fatal shootings by security forces.

The human rights group reports there have been praiseworthy improvements in Turkish legislation, but the criminal justice system will still in need of reform. Turkey also needs to firmly put the protection of the human rights of citizens above that of the perceived interests of state institutions and officials.

Turkey's poor human rights record is seen as a major impediment to its plans to join the European Union. Talks on accession began in October 2005, but progress has been slow.

France recently reaffirmed its opposition to Turkish membership. So as Turkey sees its prospects of membership in the medium-term dwindling, does this mean that campaigners are now less able to press for improvements in its human rights record?

Amnesty International does not see the hope for vast improvements in the human rights situation like in the years 2003 and 2004. Andrew Gardner thinks that the whole political situation in Turkey in relation to human rights is not just the issue of the EU but also the issue of clashes occurring with separatist groups and the armed forces and the general culture of nationalism in Turkey.

No justice for victims of torture

"Torture, ill-treatment and killings continue to be met with persistent impunity for the security forces in Turkey," Gardner said. The investigation and prosecution of serious human rights violations committed by officers of the police and gendarmerie are flawed and compounded by inconsistent decisions by prosecutors and judges.

As a result, justice for the victims of human rights violations is delayed or denied. Amnesty called on Turkey to overhaul its justice system.

Amnesty also criticized the absence of an independent body in Turkey which could undertake an impartial and effective investigation of human rights violations by state officials.

Mark Caldwell

© DEUTSCHE WELLE 2007

Qantara.de

Human Rights Situation in Turkey
Freedom of Opinion Closely Restricted
Although Turkey is making an effort to comply with the EU's requirements on human rights, there has been few changes as yet to the traditionally authoritarian concept of the state, says Amke Dietert

Interview with Eren Keskin
"The Turkish Military Has Too Much Power"
The Kurdish-born attorney Eren Keskin has been awarded the "Theodor Haecker Prize for Civic Courage and Political Integrity." In an interview with Petra Tabeling, she speaks about human rights and the Turkish military

Dossier
Turkey and Europe
Few political issues are as contested as Turkey's possible accession to the European Union. Will Ankara be able to meet all the criteria in the long term? In our dossier, sponsored by the Ernst Reuter Initiative, we take a look at political, societal and cultural relations between Turkey and Europe

www

Amnesty International's Report: "The Entrenched Culture of Impunity Must End"