Lawyers criticize the Council of Ministers for once again granting Turkey more time in its interim decision regarding the “right to hope.”
Speaking to ANF, Ali Bozan criticized the European Council of Ministers for postponing its decision, saying that despite the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling not being implemented for 11 years and the process initiated by Abdullah Öcalan’s historic call on February 27, the government has avoided responsibility.
Bozan said: “Instead of taking responsibility, Europe acted like the AKP and spread out the implementation of the ‘right to hope’ decision over time. Of course, it is important that the Council of Ministers referred to the ongoing process, the commission established in Parliament, and the draft laws related to the ‘right to hope.’ But it does not show the coercive power needed to force Turkey to recognize and implement the ‘right to hope.’ Previously, the Council of Ministers set a one-year deadline; this time, they reduced it to nine months. Unfortunately, Turkey under Erdoğan will take no steps in these nine months. The Council of Ministers has given Turkey, which is reluctant to take practical and concrete steps to resolve the Kurdish issue, the leverage it wanted.”
Granting new extensions to Turkey only paves the way to arbitrary and unlawful attitude
DBP Van co-chair Cemal Demir stated that the “right to hope” should not only apply to Abdullah Öcalan but also to more than 4,000 people serving life sentences. He said: “According to Abdullah Öcalan’s approach, the ‘right to hope’ should be recognized by all countries subject to European Human Rights law as a principle. Currently, thousands are serving life sentences, and recognizing the ‘right to hope’ for all of them, secured through legal regulations in Parliament, is required by both national and international law.”
Demir noted that granting another extension by the European Council of Ministers is legally questionable and added: “A definite deadline should have been set. Giving repeated extensions actually paves the way for the government’s arbitrary and unlawful behavior and emboldens it. The Council of Ministers’ enforcement power remains overshadowed by political pressure. For the process initiated by Abdullah Öcalan to proceed properly and for him to fulfill his responsibilities, freedom and security conditions must be ensured, particularly guaranteeing his physical freedom.”