Turkey’s top appeals court, the Court of Cassation, filed a criminal complaint against Constitutional Court’s (AYM) judges regarding their ruling to release jailed MP Can Atalay. Turkish Bar Associations and opposition parties deemed the move a judicial uprising attempt.
Atalay is one of the seven defendants sentenced to 18 years in prison in the Gezi Park trial. Convicted for ‘assisting to the attempted abolishment of the government’ Atalay was elected as Hatay deputy from TİP (Turkey Workers Party) on May 14 general elections.
The 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, on November 8 refused to comply with the AYM ruling regarding jailed deputy Atalay and filed a criminal complaint against AYM justices who voted for Atalay’s release, claiming they violated the constitution and exceeded their authority.
“A direct uprising attempt by the Supreme Court”
Making a statement after the extraordinary closed meeting held last night following the developments, CHP Chairman Ozgür Ozel said, “The decision is of course a victimizing decision for Can Atalay. However, those targeted by the decision are not limited to Can Atalay. With the example of the Can Atalay decision, it is an attempt to disregard the constitution, to resist the constitution, to overthrow the constitutional order, and to directly attempt an uprising by the Supreme Court.”
Responding to CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel, Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç said, “It is extremely wrong and irresponsible to make statements that there was a coup against the Parliament.”
Following the developments, AK Party Deputy Chairman Hayati Yazici made a statement on the social media platform X last night and said, “There are such events that it is a problem whether you speak or not to analyze. We are experiencing such an event that should never, ever happen. It is a pity, a great pity. The powers that make up the state solve problems. They never produce problems, they cannot produce problems. They cannot trip each other up,” he said.
AK Party Group Deputy Chairman Abdulhamit Gul also made a statement on X, stating that the appearance of conflict between the higher judicial authorities is worrying about the sense of justice and said, “It is essential for every institution to use its authority and function, which derives its source from the nation, within the framework of the law. It is the most natural expectation of our nation that judicial bodies solve problems without deepening conflicts and staying within constitutional boundaries.”