Brussels, 14/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - “There are some long-standing, systemic dysfunctions in the Turkish justice system adversely affecting the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms”, said Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, speaking on Friday 14 October after a five-day visit to Turkey. Hammarberg also said he was confident of Ankara's resolve to remedy this situation.
Thomas Hammarberg cited the key problems in Turkey's justice system, including the lack of independence of the judiciary, the excessive length of pre-trial detention, delays built up by courts and the special powers held by courts of assizes. All these factors combined means that “the mere opening of proceedings can become - in essence - a punishment”, the commissioner said. He added that there is an urgent need to “fully safeguard the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence”.
Thomas Hammerberg will be publishing a report on his visit in coming days. (DD/Stag/transl.jl)