Main opposition CHP leader slams Euro court for rejecting post-coup appeals

ANKARA

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Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has slammed the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for refusing the individual application of a dismissed teacher on the grounds that plaintiffs must first apply to Turkey’s State of Emergency Investigation Commission.

“The ECHR has given a decision stating that it would receive applications only after an application to an established commission. Don’t you know what is going on in Turkey? Which commission are you talking about? People are dying in prisons. We waited five months to just appoint members,” Kılıçdaroğlu said in a parliamentary group meeting on June 13.

His comments came after the ECHR refused an application from a Turkish teacher who alleged that he was wrongly dismissed with a state of emergency decree, with the court saying the educator must first apply to the State of Emergency Investigation Commission so as to first exhaust all domestic legal avenues.

With the ruling expected to set a precedent at the ECHR amid thousands of applications from public officials who lost their positions with a decree after the July 2016 coup attempt, Kılıçdaroğlu slammed the Strasbourg-based court for undermining the legal conditions in Turkey.

“Now the judiciary in Turkey is a triggerman of the political power and some circles. The ECHR should not act in line with this situation. Otherwise, this institution would erode its credibility,” Kılıçdaroğlu said.

Kılıçdaroğlu stated that the commission, which was established amid criticisms from European Institutions to receive the complaints of people who have been affected by the ongoing state of the emergency, had not yet even started to receive applications.

“Which commission are you talking about? The main purpose of its establishment was to postpone the individual applications to be appealed to the ECHR. Didn’t they know that?” Kılıçdaroğlu said, arguing that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was influencing the judicial system.

Kılıçdaroğlu also called on the ECHR to take immediate action on dismissed educators Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça, who have been on hunger strike for 97 days to demand that they be reinstated in their positions.

The two jailed educators were imprisoned despite conducting peaceful demonstrations, Kılıçdaroğlu said, adding that their health conditions were deteriorating.

“I want to call out on the ECHR, do you even have a conscience? Are you going to make a decision after those people have died?” he said.