On March 19, arrest warrants were issued for 106 suspects, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The Turkish metropolis's Chief Prosecutor's Office is conducting two investigations. "As part of the investigation conducted by the Terrorism Crimes Investigation Bureau, arrest warrants were issued for seven people, including the mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The investigation alleges that the suspects committed the crime of aiding a terrorist organization", said Yılmaz Tunç, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Turkey.
The latest investigation was launched by the Organized Crime Investigation Bureau. Arrest warrants were issued for 100 suspects, including the mayor of Istanbul, as part of the investigation. The investigation alleges that the suspects committed crimes including bribery, extortion, bid rigging, aggravated fraud and the illegal acquisition of personal data as part of a criminal organization for profit. Detention orders have been issued for 106 suspects in the two investigations.
Minister Tunç specifically emphasized that:
* The Republic of Turkey is a state governed by the rule of law.
* Article 9 of our Constitution is clear.
* Judicial power is exercised by independent and impartial courts in the name of the Turkish nation.
* The rule of law is fundamental.
* Everyone is equal before the law, no privileges can be given to anyone or any group.
* According to Article 138 of our Constitution, the courts are independent.
* No body, authority, institution or person can issue orders or instructions, send circulars, make recommendations or suggestions to the courts and judges in the exercise of judicial power.
* According to Article 157 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the investigation is confidential.
"Such confidentiality is essential for the proper functioning of justice, as well as for the prevention of violations of human rights, the presumption of innocence and the right to protection of honor and reputation. It is wrong to assess the initiated inspections without getting acquainted with the content of the materials, the accusations and the evidence in the case", the Minister of Justice added.
It is extremely dangerous and wrong to ignore the importance of investigations carried out by impartial and independent judicial bodies and to characterize them with such expressions as a coup d'état.
On the other hand, it is unacceptable to spread disinformation about investigations through street calls and statements aimed at misleading public opinion, Tunç specified.
"Everyone should know that in a state governed by the rule of law, if there is an accusation of committing a crime, the place for defense is not the street, but the court. If there is evidence of a crime, the necessary investigation is carried out by authorized judicial bodies. Responsibility and protection before the judiciary is both the right and the duty of every person," the minister said.
"To link investigations and cases initiated by the court to our president is, to put it mildly, impudence and ignorance of boundaries. In our country with its legislative, executive and judicial branches, a separation of powers is necessary. The judiciary does not receive orders and instructions from anyone.
Attacks on the judiciary, threats and insults against representatives of the judiciary are unacceptable in a democratic state governed by the rule of law. It is necessary to act in a manner guided by common sense and not to adopt attitudes and behaviors aimed at influencing the course of the investigation in order to achieve justice," Tunç said.
The decision taken by a neutral and independent judiciary is binding on everyone and must be respected.
During the investigation phase, the accusations, defenses and evidence will be evaluated and when the investigation is lifted from secrecy, the public will see the truth in all its clarity and transparency.
"That is why from today on it is wrong to draw hasty conclusions for or against without having information about the content of the investigation. It should not be forgotten that in a state governed by the rule of law, the presumption of innocence and the right to an unblemished reputation are fundamental principles. The Turkish judicial system must be trusted. The judicial system has all the capabilities to protect rights to the end. In order to ensure that justice is served fully and without hindrance, it is our common responsibility to follow the process calmly and respect the decision taken," concluded the Turkish Minister of Justice.