Turkey’s judiciary officially owns union for the first time

Oya Armutçu HÜRRİYET / ANKARA

For the first time, Turkey’s judiciary officially owns a union after the Labor and Social Security Ministry has given it a code, which bestows the right to function as a union.

The government previously denounced the Judges and Prosecutors Union (YARSAV) as a “pirate,” claiming it had no official status. However, the ministry has given Code 229 to the union’s judges, making it an official union.

The union will be able to collect subscriptions and receive state subsidiaries with the code granted by the ministry.

Ömer Faruk Eminağaoğlu, president of YARSAV, received objections by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies after he attempted to take the floor at a January session of the parliamentary commission’s work on legislative amendments, which focused on the restructuring of the Supreme Board of Prosecutors and Judges (HSYK).

As tensions rose during the debate, Eminağaoğlu became the recipient of an attempted acrobatic flying kick by ruling AKP lawmaker Zeyid Aslan.

During the fight and in the presence of Justice Minister Bekir Bozdağ, AKP and CHP deputies walked up to each other while some AKP deputies yelled at Eminağaoğlu saying, “You are the murderer of Feb. 28, you are the dog of Feb. 28,” state-run Anadolu Agency reported, without naming the deputies.

YARSAV Secretary-General Mustafa Karadağ said they won their legal struggles despite all the obstacles created by government officials and some judiciary officials.