Supreme Court of Appeals Chairman Eraslan Ozkaya said...

Supreme Court of Appeals Chairman Eraslan Ozkaya said that the death penalty has to be abolished in Turkey, adding that a solution has to be found to the issue of education and broadcasting in mother tongue without damaging the unity and integrity of Turkey.
"Turkey has to join the EU as a full member," said Ozkaya, noting that a new civilian constitution has to be prepared. Ozkaya also stressed that it was not possible to say that the judiciary was independent in Turkey. Responding to the questions of an A.A correspondent on various issues, Ozkaya said that modern steps have to be taken in Turkey within the scope of basic human rights and freedoms, but these steps should not endanger the territorial integrity.
"It is not possible for us to join the EU by keeping death penalty in our laws. Death penalty is not executed in Turkey for 18 years, and it is not possible to practice death penalty from now on. Laws for certain persons can't be adopted. Heavy life imprisonment has to be brought for crimes that necessitate death penalty including terror crimes and these persons should be taken out of amnesty or conditional release laws," he said. He stressed that the separation of powers principle has to be fully implemented in Turkey.