Av.Ozan Kurt

Against All Odds: Fighting The New Stray Animal Law Through a Holistic Struggle For Equality 

By Ozan Kurt | Published on November 9, 2024 

Recently A bill aimed at killing stray animals through undemocratic means1  has been passed by the Turkish parliament and swiftly enacted. This new law sharply contrasts with Turkey's previous Animal Protection Law enacted in 2004 (Law No. 5199), which was aligned with international standards in animal welfare. This new law sparked major protests nationwide and even wordwide. When this law was just beginning to be discussed, two initiatives in which I was personally involved came to the fore. These two initiatives, unlike other animal rights associations in Turkey, adopted an intersectional approach and emphasized that the real fight against this 'massacre law' could only be fought by defending 'all rights'. 

 What Does The New Law Include?

The law requires local municipalities to round up stray dogs, place them in shelters, and prepare them for adoption by neutering, spaying, and vaccinating them. However, any dogs deemed terminally ill, severely injured, or posing a public health risk are subject to euthanasia. Concerns are growing over a potential increase in the mass euthanasia of stray animals in Turkey due to inadequate shelter space following recent legislative changes. With millions of stray dogs across Turkey and shelter capacity for only about 100,000, the new law could lead to the killing of countless animals.. 

The new law is in serious contradiction with the abrogated law which was enacted in 2004.The 2004 law promoted humane treatment and prioritized non-lethal methods for managing stray animals, making it a model aligned with global practices, back then the old law  received a generally positive response from the European Union as it aligned Turkey's animal welfare standards more closely with EU norms. Additionally, this law was a part of broader reforms in Turkey that aimed to enhance human rights, including the welfare of   animals.2 While animal rights advocates were calling  for expanding the 2004 Animal Protection Law, with this new law all previously established protections were dismantled. The new law, in summary, blames the growing population of stray animals on the animals themselves, instead of addressing the failure of local governments to fulfill responsibilities established by the previous Animal Protection Law No. 5199, such as neutering and promoting adoption.The government is attempting to use a sense of societal necessity and insecurity to make the public accept an approach they would normally reject, by emphasizing a situation that could incite fear.3 The most incomprehensible aspect of this law is that it does not contain a regulation prohibiting the sale and production of animals because the biggest reason for the increase in the population of stray animals is the production and trade of animals.

For Every Living Being: Initiatives of Sokaktayım Yanındayım and Hayvan Yaşam Özgürlük

As the discussions on the law began in parliament, lawyers, many animal rights associations and various initiatives began protesting in front of parliament, but this was prevented by the police.4  The protest was then moved to Kugulu Park - the most important park in the city centre, near the parliament.5  Ankara Bar Association, lawyers from Turkısh Bar Assocıation Union, deputies of dissent parties, animal rights activists and initiatives declared Kuğulu Park a habitat and declared that they would stay in that park until the law was withdrawn.

 Under the leadership of Sokaktayımyanındayım and Hayvan Yasam Ozgürlük Initiatives Kuğulu Park turned into a living space for animals and all groups oppressed under Erdoğan's rule. Here, rights defenders named themselves 'Right to life defender', emphasizing the integrity of human rights and animal rights, and named the area 'Living area'.

 According to these two initiatives, hate speech and other fascistic actions do not exist in isolation; they inevitably intersect with other forms of oppression According to them, an intersectional approach is the only way to combat systematic oppression.Intersectionality highlights that any living being  experience oppression not as separate issues but as the interconnected effects of various identities and social influences. The goal is for communities to share in the benefits of sustainable practices in a fair and inclusive way. Today, those who want to marginalize stray animals  and those who constantly target LGBTIQ+ individuals, declare them criminals and those who discriminate on ethnic grounds come from the same mentality as 6  7 Achieving the goal of repealing this law—one that contradicts scientific principles, natural law, and moral values requires a comprehensive defense of all rights.The Living Area has grown gradually with the participation of various non-governmental organizations, veterinarians and other pro-lifers from the public.8   A manifesto declaring that the fight for rights must be carried out on an intersectional level was strapped to a big tree, stating that no hate speech or component of systematic discrimination would be allowed in the Living Area, in contrast to the  government`s policies. 

The song "There is no salvation alone, either all of us together or none of us"  ( Kurtulus Yok Tek Basina Ya Hep Beraber Ya Hicbirimiz) by İlkay Akkaya, which speaks to the idea that freedom is only possible if all individuals, living beings and groups are free, along with other songs with similar themes, has become the "anthem" of the Living Area. Everyone in the Living Area had a single purpose, and this purpose was not only to save animals, but also tearing down systemic barriers to establish a just society.

 There is no hierarchy in the structure of these two initiatives. The Sokaktayim Yanindayim (in english the name means:  I Am On The Street With You ) Initiative and the Hayvan Yasam Ozgurluk (in english the name means:  Animal, Life, Freedom ) Initiative have a horizontal organizational structure 9 .. A horizontal organization is one in which all participants have an equal say, with no hierarchical structure or clear distinction between levels." Implementing democracy—one of the key components of a 'just society' that these initiatives strive for—is the community's top priority.

Advocating for Animal Rights as a Path to Social Justice and Systemic Freedom

Regardless of who it is addressed to, discriminatory rhetoric and practices exist as a whole. All types of oppressions come from the same source. Oppression is not limited to the group it is directed at, but it also spreads to other groups with its all-encompassing approach. Oppression directed at one group is no different from oppression directed at another; both reinforce harm.  this is why advocating for the right of animals to live, even beyond the scope of all moral considerations, is fundamentally a struggle against various forms of systemic oppression. By confronting one form of oppression, we challenge them all.Both human and animal rights frameworks are grounded in the principle of recognizing the intrinsic worth and dignity of all beings Systematic oppression must be challenged in its entirety, as true freedom can only be achieved when all individuals and groups are free. If any group—composed of any living beings—remains oppressed, then freedom itself cannot exist. The rights of animals and the rights of humans unite under the principles of the right to life and freedom. Legal recognition of animal rights, alongside human rights, is crucial in confronting the systemic structures that perpetuate both human and animal suffering. The fight for animal rights is not separate from the fight for social justice; it is an essential aspect of it, as animals, like humans, are subject to, violence, and exploitation. Thus, advocating for animals' right to live, free from cruelty and oppression, is a necessary step toward a truly just and equal society. Animals are an integral part of this life.

A Just society could only be ensured with the establishment of the dignity and full rights of all parts and components of life. In this regard,  life defenders created a social opposition in the process that started in July 2024. This was an all-inclusive resistance against the systematic oppression that is constantly increasing in Turkey.

 Guardians of Life

  Life Defenders in these two initiatives acted as guardians for animals and took concrete steps to prevent massacres. They established a neighborhood organization with the volunteer people who once visited the Living Area. This network aims to notify other volunteers in the neighborhood through communication channels when municipalities come to collect dogs on the street illegally, to prevent illegal collections, and if it cannot be prevented, to record them in order to initiate legal proceedings. Additionally, there are volunteer animal rescue teams established under the umbrella of these two initiatives. They identify stray animals in need of help, get them treated, and start an adoption campaign These networks played a very important role in saving animals throughout Ankara. Reporting on the mass murder of stray animals (cats and dogs), which increased dramatically after the law was passed, was very effective in collecting evidence and bringing such massacres to the agenda of the country and the world. Most importantly, they are working to uncover the atrocities committed against animals by visiting animal shelters and then pursuing legal action against these incidents. This is how the massacres in Ankara Altındağ shelter came to light.10, 11  Also, the incident of 12 dogs shot with a firearm in the Mamak district of Ankara12 Thanks to this organization, it was brought to light, and thanks to this organization, evidence was collected by volunteers in a timely manner and other injured animals were treated. 13 ( the content might be found disstressing) The fact that they organize various protests at various points in order to raise awareness in the society against this terrible law, without hesitating to confront the police despite the high police brutality in Turkey, reveals their determination.

Systemic Impunity: Judicial Failures and the Neglect of Animal Rights in Turkey

  In Turkey, it is known to everyone that systematically, the judicial power does not effectively investigate crimes committed against animals. Aside from the investigation of crimes against animals, the overall situation of Turkish Judiciary is not really positive.  In the 2024 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, Turkey ranks 117th out of 142 countries, places it at the lowest position in the Europe and Central Asia region, marking it 15th out of the 15 countries in that grouping14   Additionally, the 2023 European Union (EU) Turkey Report raised concerns over judicial independence in Turkey, (European Commission, '2023 Report on Turkey' 15  To summarize the relationship between crimes against animals and the legal system, a recent example can be cited as follows:  In the investigation opened as a result of the killing of many animals in the Niğde Municipality stray animal shelter in August,16 despite the testimonies of the shelter employees, the prosecutor's office did not fulfill the requests such as opening the graves, sending the corpses for necropsy, reviewing camera recordings, evidences was not collected and sent the file to the provincial Directorate of Agriculture. The Directorate of Agriculture gave no permission for an investigation on the grounds that there was no concrete evidence about the incident. Again, after the massacre at the Gebze Shelter, which was revealed by animal rights activists in Istanbul on October 11, the fact that the animals were brought to Ankara for necropsy and the necropsy was refuted, reveals the government's policy of impunity in this sense.

 Possible Linkages

  As Veterinarians Association 17 , Union of Turkish Bar Associations 18 and Turkish Psychological Association 19   mention Studies 20  have shown a link between violence toward animals and violence toward humans, which is sometimes referred to as the “link theory.” Those who commit acts of cruelty against animals may be more likely to commit violence against humans. This link raises ethical concerns about fostering compassion and nonviolence toward all living beings.

In an environment where rights are narrowing every day, some people are being marginalized more and more every day, and systematic oppression is increasing, the fight of  Life Defenders continues in Turkey.

The last hope for the repeal of the law is the Constitutional Court's annulment of the law. The annulment of the law and the suspension of its execution were demanded by the opposition party CHP. In this process, massacres, violence against stray animals and cruelty in shelters, also known as death camps, continue.

Ozan O. Kurt

1-( https://www.turkishminute.com/2024/07/24/committee-approved-bill-aiming-solve-turkeys-stray-dog-problem-amid-objections-concerns/ )

2-( Euractiv, 'EU Praises Turkey’s Animal Protection Law as a Step Forward' (Euractiv, 29 November 2017) https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/eu-praises-turkeys-animal-protection-law-as-a-step-forward/ )

3-( Turkish Psychological Association, 'Sokak Hayvanları Yasası Hk' (Turkish Psychological Association, no date, https://psikiyatri.org.tr/3887/sokak-hayvanlari-yasasi-hk) 

6-( Turkey’s elections and the future of LGBTQ rights under Erdogan' (Politico, 24 May 2023) https://www.politico.eu/article/turkey-elections-2023-lgbtq-recep-tayyip-erdogan/ ,

7-(MLSA Turkey, 21 February 2023) https://www.mlsaturkey.com/en/international-mother-language-day-bans-on-kurdish-language-events-in-turkey-are-political

4-( in turkish, https://yesilgazete.org/hayvan-hakki-savunuculari-meclis-parkina-alinmadi-avukatlar-destek-talep-ediyor/amp/ )

5-Video, Cumhuriiyet , Kuğulu Park'ta 'ötanazi' protestosu: "Zalim bir tercih...", Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRyE8H8l8Cg )

8-Photos, Sopa Images, Protests against euthanasia of stray animals in Ankara, Turkey -https://www.sopaimages.com/galleries/69173/protests-against-euthanasia-of-stray-animals-in-an)

9- ( Hayvan Yasam, Ozgurluk, Instagram,https://www.instagram.com/p/DBfqpxUIarg/?img_index=1)

10-( BBC News Türkçe, 'Hayvana Şiddet Yasası: Türkiye, Hayvanları Korumakta Ne Kadar Başarılı?' (BBC News Türkçe, 28 October 2024) https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/c4gd5vx3gxno. )

11-The Save Moment Instagram Post, https://www.instagram.com/p/C-_MCEmzS0a/?igsh=MXVjYXQzbWl4eWRwcw%3D%3D

12-  (Yesil Gazete, https://yesilgazete.org/ankarada-katliam-yavru-kopekleri-kursunlayarak-oldurmusler/)

13-,( Sokatayım Yanındayım, Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/p/DBwc9-1OeOg/) 

( the content might be found disstressing)

14-grouping.( World Justice Project, 'World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2023' (2023) https://worldjusticeproject.org) 

15-(European Commission, '2023 Report on Turkey' (European Commission, 2023) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23)

16-(Turkish Minute, 'Municipality in central Turkey accused of mass killing of stray dogs' (8 August 2024) https://www.turkishminute.com/2024/08/08/municipality-central-turkey-accused-mass-killing-of-stray-dogs/ ) 

17-Vethekimder, 'Sokak Hayvanları Sahipsiz Değil' (Vethekimder, no date, https://vethekimder.org.tr/TR,1090/sokak-hayvanlari-sahipsiz-degil.html) 

18-Hayvanları Koruma Kanununda Değişiklik Yapılmasına Dair Kanun Teklifine İlişkin Hukuki Değerlendirme' (Union of Turkish Bar Associations, no date, https://www.barobirlik.org.tr/Haberler/hayvanlari-koruma-kanununda-degisiklik-yapilmasina-dair-kanun-teklifine-iliskin-hukuki-degerlendirme-84921) 

19- Turkish Psychological Association, 'Sokak Hayvanları Yasası Hk' (Turkish Psychological Association, no date, https://psikiyatri.org.tr/3887/sokak-hayvanlari-yasasi-hk) 

20 Frank Ascione, ‘Children Who Are Cruel to Animals: A Review of Research and Implications for Developmental Psychopathology’ (1993) 29(4) Anthrozoos 222, 224, discussing the Macdonald Triad.  (National Link Coalition, ‘The Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence’ (National Link Coalition) https://nationallinkcoalition.org/what-is-the-link/  )

TURKEY- Human Rights Violation by Human Rights Institution

By Ozan Kurt | Published on June 30, 2024 

On 30.06.2024 Pride March, Istanbul Police blockaded the whole of Istanbul again. In a statement published by the Istanbul Governorship on the social media platform X, people who participated in Pride were referred to as an "illegal group".1 After the Pride March, the police looked for the participants who attended the pride in Istanbul.2 The ban on discrimination in Turkey needs to be re-examined in this period when university rectors call the police to the campus and have their own students arrested and detained as soon as they see people marching with a rainbow flag, and when hate speech is at its peak.

 REGULATIONS IN TURKEY

In its journey to become a member of the EU, Turkey has enacted various laws for certain protected interests to prevent discrimination and the human rights protection agency, namely TIHEK, has been established. However, Sexual orientation or queerness is not a protected legal interest in Turkey. Legal interests protected by TİHEK are gender, race, color, language, religion, belief, sect, philosophical and political opinion, ethnicity, wealth, birth, marital status, health status, disability and It consists of age basics.

PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION

The prohibition of discrimination, which dates back to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, means that every individual in society should not be treated negatively compared to others while benefiting from public services and all other goods and services. The majority (38) of the member states of the Council of Europe have recognized, in line with European standards, that sexual orientation is one of the grounds of discrimination in anti-discrimination legislation.3 European Convention on Human Rights additional protocol 12, It provides for a general prohibition of discrimination. Türkiye signed the Protocol on 18 April 2001, but has not yet ratified it.

HOW IS IT IN TURKEY?

In order for the applications made regarding the prohibition of discrimination to be within the scope of Law No. 6701, Article 3 they must be based on at least one of the bases of  gender, race, color, language, religion, belief, sect, philosophical and political opinion, ethnicity, wealth, birth, marital status, health status, disability. and age. In this sense, someone who is discriminated against based on their sexual orientation cannot benefit from TIHEK's protections. Transgender individuals are also deliberately not benefited from this protection under the same excuse. In this sense, TIHEK is an ineffective institution in terms of establishing human rights. Unless human rights are protected as a whole, there can be no human rights protection.

There are serious deficiencies in the functioning of democratic institutions in Turkey. The continued refusal to implement some decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) remains a matter of concern. The deterioration in the areas of human rights and fundamental rights continued. Gender-based violence, discrimination and hate speech against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people remain a matter of serious concern4.

The Constitutional Court has adopted the public order criterion when evaluating the principle of equality. This situation, according to the interpretation of the public order principle, finds a legitimate basis for the discrimination and differential treatment of LGBTIQ+ people. Because it is not a new situation that LGBTIQ+ people are recognized, especially in the political environment, as a community that poses a great threat to the institution of family and thus violates public order. Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun made an anti-LGBT speech, pointing out that “concepts such as freedom and tolerance… are being corrupted for the propaganda of homosexuality; We firmly oppose targeting our families and children in this way,”5  ( Human Rıghts Watch)  It should be noted that Turkey ranks 143rd (out of 178 countries) in the ranking of judicial independence.

WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ATTITUDE OF THE STATE OF TURKEY?

In recent years, the Turkish state authorities have illegally banned LGBTIQ+ individuals' pride marches held all over the world. It is a practice that is incompatible with the prohibition of discrimination in connection with the right to organize meetings and demonstrations without justification. This also means a clear violation of the constitution because Article 34 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey states: "The right to organize meetings and demonstrations. Everyone has the right to organize meetings and demonstrations without prior permission, without weapons and without attack."

The scope of non-discrimination occurs in all areas of life, such as employment, access to welfare and social security, education, access to goods and services including housing, and political participation. As a result of the politics of hate in Turkey, homophobia and hate speech are on the rise among the public. It is a known fact that LGBTIQ+ individuals have problems especially with employment. This situation even exists when LGBTIQ+ individuals look for a place to live. Simply put, staying in a hotel can be a problem for a Trans person.. ( Sendika.org) 6  In this case, the person who is discriminated cannot claim damages because sexual orientation and being queer are not legally protected legal interests in Turkey. Preventing the activities of LGBTIQ+ non-governmental organizations with the claim that the concept of 'family' is damaged is on the agenda of Turkish politics. The banning of Pride Marches in all cities of the country is another important discrimination. What's worse than this is that state institutions themselves criminalize LGBTIQ+ individuals. On 30.06.2024, Istanbul Governorship mentioned that 'illegal groups' would participate in Istanbul Pride.

 Non-discrimination law prohibits situations in which people/groups in the same situation are treated differently and prohibits situations in which people/groups in different situations are treated the same. For example, according to Turkish government officials, trans people are abnormal people when staying in a hotel, but they are the same person in prison and when it is their turn to do military service. In this state, the Turkish State draws the profile of a state that does not recognize your existence, no matter what you are or what shape you take. Although these discriminatory activities remain unsanctioned and are considered a serious human rights violation according to ECHR jurisprudence, Turkey does not intend to take any steps on this issue. The European Union's silence on such human rights violations in Turkey since Russia's invasion of Ukraine remains a worrying situation.

Ozan Kurt

1 The link of X statement of Governorship Istanbul ( in Turkish) https://x.com/tc_istanbul/status/1807276293379015104?s=48

2 The link ( in Turkish )  https://x.com/istanbulpride/status/1807413560315625638?s=48

3 Eylül 2011 Avrupa Konseyi Yayıncılık Avrupa’da cinsel yönelim ve cinsiyet kimliğine dayalı ayrımcılık  Thomas Hammarberg )

4 EU Commission  https://ab.gov.tr/siteimages/resimler/2023%20T%C3%BCrkiye%20Raporu.pdf  2023 Türkiye Raporu. Avrupa Birliği Komisyonu

5 ( Human Rıghts Watch) ( in Turkish)  https://www.hrw.org/tr/news/2022/07/06/turkey-mass-arrests-anti-lgbt-violence-pride

6 Sendika.org ( in Turkish) https://sendika.org/2019/12/trans-kadinlarin-otele-alinmamasini-ayrimcilik-saymayan-tihek-karari-iptal-edildi-571905  

CMK- Savunma Hakkı Askıya Alınabilir Mi?

                                                                                                                                                                              (see English below )

Yeni CMK Ücret Tarifesinin 13 Ocak 2024 tarihli ve 32428 sayılı Resmî Gazete’de yayımlanmasından sonra son birkaç yılda olduğu gibi bu yılda da ücretler bir çok meslektaş tarafından oldukça düşük olduğu ve sarf edilen çabayı karşılamadığı gerekçesiyle kabul edilemez bulundu. Birçok meslek mensubu, ücretlerin  iyileştirilmesi için CMK görevlendirme sisteminin kapatılması  ya da CMK ve Adli Yardım görevlerinin askıya alınması gibi CMK hizmetlerinin yavaşlatılması ve kademeli olarak durdurulması kararı alınması için çağrıda bulundu. Türkiye’de süregelen malum ekonomik kriz ve sonucu olan  hiper enflasyon nedeniyle bu tür endişe ve taleplerin oldukça makul olduğu ve bu hususun çözümü için yargı yolunda sonuç alınamadığı gerçeklerini bir yana bırakırsak hiçbir surette savunma hakkına erişimin zorlaştırılmasının bir tepki aracı olmaması gerektiğini düşünüyorum.

Anayasa'nın 36. maddesinde her ne kadar müdafi ile savunulma hakkından ayrıca bahsedilmemiş olsa da müdafinin hukuki yardımından yararlanmak savunma hakkının güvencesidir zira adil yargılanma hakkı ve bağlantılı haklar  çerçevesinde şüphelinin veya sanığın kendisine tanınan hakların kullanılmasında ve bu işleyişin hukuka uygun yürütülmesinde müdafii hem sağlayıcı hem de koruyucu  rolüne bürünür. Savunma hakkının bir temel hak olması  ve savunma olgusunun mesleğin temel yapı taşı olmasının yanı sıra, müdafii yardımı şüpheli veya sanığın sığınabileceği en güvenli limandır.

Bazı baroların CMK ücretlerinin çok düşük olmasına tepki olarak  CMK müdafii görevlendirmesini belirli  süreliğine  çocuk ve kadınlar ile sınırlandırdığı  bilinmektedir.  Ancak böyle bir ayrım çocuk veya kadın olmayan diğer bireylerin temel haklarından biri olan savunma hakkının yok sayılması anlamına gelir. Türkiye’de özellikle de polis merkezlerinde şüphelilere karşı yapılan hak ihlalleri birçok kez gündeme geliyor. Şüpheli veya sanığın; çocuk, kendisini savunamayacak derecede malul veya sağır ve dilsiz olduğu haller, alt sınırı beş yıldan fazla hapis cezasını gerektiren suçlardan dolayı yapılan soruşturma ve kovuşturma dışında şüpheli veya sanığın  müdafii görevlendirilmesini talep ettiği zaman görevlendirmenin CMK gereği  zorunlu olduğunu unutmamak gerekir. Savunma hakkının en büyük neferi olan müdafii yardımını çocuk ve kadın bireylerle sınırlandırmak da yine herkesin eşit olarak sahip olduğu savunma hakkı ve bağlantılı tüm haklarını zarara uğratacaktır. 

Müdafiinin yokluğu esnasında, özellikle soruşturma evresinde şüphelinin adil yargılanma hakkıyla bağlantılı olan güvencelerinin zarar görme riski çok fazladır. En büyük risk,  sağlık muayenesi aşamasında kendine yer bulacaktır. Müdafiinin sağlık kontrolü aşamasındaki en büyük görevi, şüphelinin onurunu korumakla beraber şüphelinin doğru bir sağlık muayenesinden geçirilmesinin sağlamak ve dolayısıyla delillerin kaybolmasının engellemek ve raporlattırmaktır. Eksiksiz raporlama, sadece şüphelinin vücundaki yaralanmaların raporlanması suretiyle savunma silahını güçlendiren bir işleve sahip olmakla kalmayıp  aynı zamanda Türkiye’de çok yaygın olan işkence yasağı ihlalini kayıtlara geçirecektir. Müdafiinin yokluğunda yapılan sağlık kontrolleri hem kolluk aşamasında olası şiddet emarelerinin hem de savunmasında lazım gelen önemli delillerin kaybolmasına katkı sağlayacaktır. Elbetteki kolluk aşamasında şüphelinin diğer haklarını kullanmasında müdafii, bir koruyucu görevi üstlenmektedir. Müdafiinin yokluğunda alınan ifadelerin her ne kadar mahkeme önünde tekrarlanmaları gerekir gelse de, bu şüpheli/sanık için sürecin fazladan uzaması anlamına gelebilecektir. Dolayısıyla, bu durum ayrıca kişinin lekelenmeme hakkına da zarar verecektir.

Sonuç olarak ücretlerin iyileştirilmesi gerektiğini kesinlikle düşünsem dahi, bireylerin savunma hakkı mutlak surette dokunulmazdır ve bu önemli görevi üstlenen müdafiiler için ise hiçbir surette askıya alınabilecek bir görev değildir. Çünkü müdafiilerin görevi hayati bir önem taşır.

                                                                                                                                                             Av. Oğuzcan Ozan Kurt

                                                                                                                                                                           ANKARA,2024 

                                                   TURKEY - Is It Possible to Suspend the Right of Defense?

After the new CMK Fee Tariff was published in the Official Gazette No. 32428 dated January 13, 2024, the defense counsel fees were found unacceptable by many colleagues this year, as in the last few years, on the grounds that they were quite low and did not cover the effort put into the work. Many attorneys called for a decision to  phase out the Defense Counsel Appointment services, such as closing the system or suspending it  in order to have an increase on the wages. Leaving aside the fact that such concerns and demands are quite reasonable due to the ongoing economic crisis in Turkey and the resulting hyperinflation, and that no results have been obtained in the judicial process to resolve this issue, I think that making it difficult to access the right to defense should not be a means of reaction under any circumstances.

 Although Article 36 of the Constitution does not specifically mention the right to be defended by a defender, benefiting from the legal assistance of a defense counsel is a guarantee of the right to defense, because the defender is  a provider in the use of the rights granted to the suspect and a guard for the suspect or accused since he takes on the role of the protector of the  right of defense. In addition to the fact that the right to defense is a fundamental right the assistance of a defense attorney is the safest harbor where the suspect or the accused can take shelter.

It is known that some bar associations in Turkey, as a reaction to the defense counsel fees being too low, limited the appointment of defense counsel to only children and women for a certain period of time.However, such a distinction means ignoring the right to defense of other individuals.In Turkey, especially in police stations, human rights violations against suspects come to the fore many times. It should not be forgotten that when a suspect or defendant requests the appointment of a defense attorney, a defense counsel appointment is obligatory according to the Code of Criminal Procedure as well as such cited certain situations.Restricting the assistance of a defender,  to children and women would also harm the right to defense and all related rights that everyone has equally.

During the absence of a defender, especially during the investigation phase, the risk of damage to the suspect's guarantees related to the right to a fair trial is very high.The biggest risk will find itself at the health examination stage. The defense attorney's most important duty during the health check phase is to protect the suspect's honor, as well as to ensure that the suspect undergoes a correct medical examination and therefore to prevent the loss of evidence and to have it reported.Complete reporting will not only strengthen the defense weapon by reporting the injuries on the suspect's body, but will also record the violation of the prohibition of torture, which is very common in Turkey. Health checks carried out in the absence of a defender will contribute to the loss of possible signs of violence at the law enforcement stage as well as important evidence needed for defense.Of course, the defense counsel assumes a protective role in the suspect's exercise of his other rights.Although the statements taken in the absence of a defender need to be repeated before the court, this may mean that the process will take longer for the suspect/defendant. Therefore, this situation will also harm the person's right to good reputation.

As a result, even if I definitely think that the fees should be improved, the right of individuals to defense is absolutely inviolable and it is not a duty that can be suspended under any circumstances for the defenders who undertake this important duty. Because the duty of defenders is of vital importance.

Oğuzcan Ozan Kurt 

ANKARA 2024

Yayalara neden geçiş önceliği öngörülüyor hiç düşündüz mü?

Ben bugün düşündüm. İşin kökeni düşündüm, acaba altında ne yatıyor olabilir dedim, ne gibi nedeni veya haklılığı var dedim. Şunlara ulaştım, yayalar ve sürücüler en niaheyetinde iki eşit olamayan bir satranç taşı gibidirler. Bu eşitsizliği birçok açıdan açıklamak mümkün, basit olarak enerjiye indirgediğimde ya da gerçekleşebilecek zarar risklerinden korunma gibi. Her açıda sürücüler yayalara göre güçlüdür. Peki, neden yayalara geçiş önceliği öngörülüyor ve bu bir çağdaşlık göstergesi olarak varsayılıyor? Bu sorunun cevabını bulmak için aslında insanlarrın farkında olmadığı psikolojik olgulara göz atmak gerekir.

Sürücüler yayalara geçiş hakkını vermekle aslında güç dengesi sağlamkatadır. Güçlü güçsüzle kendi konumu eşitlemektedir. İnsan  haklarının ideali de bu değil midir? Yani bu kadar sıradan bir olayın altında eşitlik psikolojisi vardır. Peki neden yayalara yol verme olayı, insan haklarının zorlu süreçler neticesinde toplumun hafızasına en derinden kazınan ülkelerde yerleşmişken insan hakkı kavramını ön planda tutamayan bazı ülkelerde yerleşmemiştir? Konumumuz Türkiye, haliyle Türkiye üzerinden duruma bakacak olursak bizim bu alışkanlığa o kadar uzak oluşumuz aşikar ki, devlet eliyle çeşitli etkinlikler ve yüksek cezalarla sağlanmaya çalışılıyor. Aslında yayaya öncelik uygulaması sadece bir örnek. Tarihi boyunca haklarını devletin üsttünden alan ve ne yazık ki halkın tabanı tarafından benimsenemeyen bir toplumun, psikolojik altyapısını ve buna bağlı olarak hayatın olağan akışındaki hareketlerini açıklamaya yarayan küçük bir örnek.

Evet, Türkiye'de yaya öncelik uygulaması halk tarafından bunca yıldır benimsenmedi çünkü insan hakları kavramı anlaşılmadı. Çünkü Türkiye'de güçlünün güçsüze yönelik bir kaygısı yok ve güçlü kendini haklı ve üstün görüyor. Eşitlik ise onlar için bir sorun değil. Elbette, bu nesillerin değişmesiyle tersine dönebilecek bir durum fakat Türkiye gibi içine kapanık bir ülkede -en basitinden yurtdışına seyahatin bile bu kadar çetrefilli oluşu, para biriminin değersiz olması gibi nedenler yüzünden- bu değişim çok yavaş ilerliyor. Genç sürücüler de yayaya yol vermiyor. Misal. Kötü niyetli değiller aslında fakat bilmiyorlar çünkü insan hakları kavramı bu toplumun zihnine yerleşememiş.  Sorun aslında temelde yatıyor biz zorlamayla öğrenemiyoruz çünkü insanız ve biz insanlar  bir şeyi sadece zorunlu olarak yaparsak ve içtenlikle kabul etmezsek bir uygulamanın devamlılığı söz konusu olamaz.

Bu fotoğrafın altında yatan neden de tam budur işte. Güç dengesizliği, eşitlik kaygısının olmayışı, insan haklarına saygı olmayışı. Kişi bunları yaparken belki de farkında değildi ama bilinçaltında temel nedenler bunlardı. Aldığı eğitimle ne gibi sınırlar içerisinde hareket etmesi gerektiğini biliyor olsa da yine de bu hareketi yapabiliyorsa, anadolu-rumeli toplumu olarak daha çok yolumuz var demektir. 

2 Nisan 2021

Oğuzcan Ozan Kurt, Ankara