Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised concerns over the decline in judicial independence in Türkiye, highlighting the implications for human rights defenders and dissenters who may find themselves without adequate domestic remedies. These apprehensions have been voiced amid increasing fears of systemic political influence on the judiciary, raising questions about the rule of law in Türkiye. According to HRW, the increasing politicization of the judicial system threatens to undermine its autonomy by allowing the government to exert undue influence over judges and prosecutors (source).
Concerns extend beyond the realm of domestic law, with HRW drawing attention to steps being taken to circumvent Türkiye’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights. This includes procedural compliance that falls short of substantive engagement with the convention’s standards and an explicit refusal by authorities to acknowledge systemic issues within the judicial system.
The erosion of judicial independence in Türkiye has international ramifications, particularly for its relationship with the European Union (EU). HRW insists that this development should play a critical role in EU-Türkiye relations, pointing to Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union, which underscores the advancement of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms as core principles of the EU’s external relations.
This situation also prompted Amnesty International to call for the release of imprisoned opposition leaders, aligning with binding judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The organization emphasized the need for state officials to refrain from making prejudiced comments on ongoing legal proceedings (source).
These criticisms are not isolated observations. The European Parliament previously adopted a resolution explicitly condemning the arbitrary dismissal and imprisonment of several Turkish political figures, urging the European Commission to contemplate restrictive measures against those involved in human rights violations (source).
The concerns voiced by HRW and others underscore the potential ramifications of continued erosion of judicial independence in Türkiye, urging both domestic reconsideration and international diplomatic discourse on how to address these pressing issues. For additional details, refer to the full article.