Turkish lawyers say decree grants impunity for political violence

ANKARA: A new emergency decree in Turkey could allow vigilantes to carry out political violence with impunity against opponents of the government suspected of involvement in last year’s coup attempt, Turkey’s main lawyers’ groups said yesterday. The government defended the emergency decree, issued on Sunday, which it said was intended to ensure that Turks who took to the streets to protect the elected government during the failed 2016 coup would not face punishment.

Turkey already granted officials immunity last year from prosecution for their official actions taken to suppress the coup. Sunday’s decree extended that immunity to civilians “whether they have an official title or not, and whether they have carried out official duties or not”. The lawyers’ groups said the measure was vaguely-worded and could lead to violence. “People will start shooting each other in the head on the streets. How will you prevent this?” Metin Feyzioglu, the head of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations, said in a video response. “So you have brought out an article that leaves civilians killing and lynching each other unpunished and without compensation. Are you aware of what you have done Mr. President?”

Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) said it would appeal the decree at the constitutional court. In a rare show of opposition, Abdullah Gul, a former president and longtime ally of President Tayyip Erdogan, said the wording of the article was worrisome, adding that he hoped it would be revised to prevent problems in the future. A separate decree on Sunday dismissed 2,756 more people from their jobs, accusing them of links to terrorist organizations. Turkey has already sacked or suspended more than 150,000 police, teachers, lawyers and other professionals from their jobs in the aftermath of the coup. More than 50,000 people have been arrested.—Reuters