PLATFORM FOR AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY IN TURKEY
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JUDGES
In July 2016 the situation of the Judiciary in Turkey and the unprecedented crackdown of Turkish government on judges and prosecutors made evident that Europe was (and still is) facing the worst deterioration of the common values, on which our Continent is built.
Democracy and human rights are questioned in parts of society in several Council of Europe’s member states. But the developments in Turkey have to be seen as destroying both: democracy and human rights. Especially the erasing of an independent judiciary is a key element to make these negative developments possible.
This extraordinary situation has induced all four European Associations of Judges:
- The Association of European Administrative Judges (AEAJ),
- The European Association of Judges (EAJ), Regional Group of the International Association of Judges (IAJ),
- The Judges for Judges and
- The “Magistrats Européens pour la Démocratie et les Libertés” (MEDEL)
to join together in their activities and form a Platform, called: PLATFORM FOR AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY IN TURKEY
Here we gather the most relevant of the numerous documents issued and activities done by the Platform:
On 17th October 2022, the Platform for Turkey, represented by the Presidents of the 4 main European Associations of Judges (Association of European Administrative Judges, AEAJ; the European Association of Judges, EAJ; Judges for Judges and Magistrates Européens pour la Démocratie et les Libertés, MEDEL), addressed a letter to the attention of the European Commission and European Council.
The letter concerns the situation of judiciary in Turkey with particular emphasis to the rule of law and to the position of unjustly dismissed judges in the country.
Hereinafter the letter:
Letter
A statement on the situation of the judiciary in Turkey has been released today by thePlatform, represented by the Presidents of the 4 main European Associations of Judges (Association of European Administrative Judges, AEAJ; the European Association of Judges, EAJ; Judges for Judges and Magistrates Européens pour la Démocratie et les Libertés, MEDEL).
The document has also been sent to the authorities herein indicated.
Hereinafter the statement .
The Platform (which gathers the four European most important judicial organisations, namely the European Association of Judges–EAJ, Judges for Judges, the European Association of Administrative Judges and MEDEL) issued an important statement on the rejection decision of the President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) of 28 January 2021 concerning the application as third-party intervener:
Today the European Commission sent a reply in response to the appeal, issued on August 31st by the Platform for an Independent Judiciary in Turkey, in defence of imprisoned, mistreated and harrassed Turkish judges and prosecutors .
The Platform for an Independent Judiciary in Turkey released a statement on the anniversary of the attempted coup.
The Platform is composed of the following organisations: Association of European Administrative Judges (AEAJ), European Association of Judges (EAJ), Judges for Judges and Magistrats Européens pour la Démocratie et les Libertés (MEDEL).
A letter was also sent to the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe.
Today the Platform for an Independent Judiciary in Turkey issued an important appeal in defence of imprisoned, mistreated and harrassed Turkish judges and prosecutors. The Platform (which gathers the four European most important judicial organisations, namely the European Association of Judges–EAJ, Judges for Judges, the European Association of Administrative Judges and MEDEL) has repeatedly and openly warned against the brutal assaults against and ill-treatment of imprisoned Turkish judges and prosecutors, i.e. gross violations of basic human rights.
The text of the appeal is available here:
The Director of the Secretariat-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) replied to a letter of the Platform, dated 24 March 2020, addressed to the President of the European Council, regarding Turkish actions in light of the Covid-19 pandemic against overcrowded prisons.
Hereinafter the link to the letter:
Letter
Letter of the Platform sent to the Turkish and to the European public authorities:
https://www.iaj-uim.org/news/letter-of-the-platform-to-the-turkish-authorities/
The Platform for an Independent Judiciary in Turkey, which is formed by the four European judges associations: Association of European Administrative Judges (AEAJ), European Association of Judges (EAJ), Judges for Judges and Magistrats Européens pour la Démocratie et les Libertés (MEDEL), drafted a letter adressed to the main authorithies in Turkey:
- The President of Turkey,
- The Minister of Justice,
- The President of Parliament,
- The Secretary-General of Parliament
Hereinafter the letter sent today:
A statement on our Turkish colleague Murat Arslan has been prepared by the Platform for an Independent Judiciary in Turkey and sent to the main International Institutions.
Hereinafter the link to a letter submitted by the UN Special Rapporteur, Mr Diego Garcia-Sayan, to Madame Ursula von Der Leyen.
The letter addresses the situation of women judges, lawyers, and prosecutors in Afghanistan.
Hereinafter a link to his most recent tweet :
https://twitter.com/UNIndepJudges/status/1443295531778727938?s=20
The EAJ’s President Mr Christophe Régnard signed, together with the other members of the Platform for an Independent Judiciary in Turkey, two letters: to the Secretary-General and to the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
In the letters, the Platform urged the Council of Europe
- to establish, within the Parliamentary Assembly, an Independent Investigation Commission, composed by experts in Human Rights, on the situation of the independence of the Judiciary in Turkey, to gather the arguments of the Turkish authorities for their activities against the judiciary and the factual basis of these activities
- to remind Turkey of the European values and standards
- to send high ranking observers to Turkey to watch the situation of the detained judges and prosecutors
The above mentioned letters are available at the following links:
Additional documents on the situation of Turkey can be found in the web page IAJ and EAJ specially dedicated to YARSAV (the Turkish Association, member of IAJ and EAJ), clicking here, as well as in the web sites of the other three international associations we linked above.
International Association of Judges
Union Internationale des Magistrats
Palazzo di Giustizia
Piazza Cavour – 00193 – Roma, Italy
tel. +39 06 6883 2213 – fax. +39 06 687 1195