Reform strategy will promote “justice that inspires confidence:” Justice minister

ANKARA

The basic philosophy of a new document on judicial reform strategy would be to ensure “justice that inspires confidence,” Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül said.

“The document is a roadmap, which is more liberal, which further develops democracy, and brings rights and freedom under further protections,” he told reporters on May 23. The minister noted that Turkey had emerged from a coup attempt and a state of emergency.

The document will elaborate on what the government will do until 2023 to the increase the quality of the judiciary, he said, noting that this will be a declaration of the government will and the projection of the planned work.

The Judicial Reform Strategy Document had been prepared over a nine-month period with the participation of “many segments of society,” taking into account “every opinion, every idea, all concerned and all stakeholders,” he said.

The strategy document benefited from data gathered in surveys carried out across the country, the minister added.

The strategy will be unveiled on May 30, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said earlier.

The minister said the reforms outlined in this document would not be final, and new ones could follow in the future. Along with the strategy document, the Human Rights Action Plan has also been updated, Gül said.

Asked whether the reforms will be in line with European Union criteria, the minister said the government aims to reach a balance between Turkey’s ongoing fight against terrorism and freedom of expression.

The government is working on alternative versions which will not weaken the struggle against terror, but will lay in between.

“We expect progress in visa liberalization issue with these steps,” he added.

Gül also noted that that jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan’s meeting with his lawyers after eight years was not a move to curry favor with Kurdish voters in the upcoming Istanbul elections, but was intended to lift a court restriction.