Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced on NTV broadcast: 39 arrests in forest fires

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç made statements regarding current issues in an NTV broadcast.

Answering questions from NTV Ankara Representative Ahmet Ergen, Minister Tunç delivered important messages on the Terror-Free Turkey process, judicial regulations, forest fires, and ongoing investigations.

39 ARRESTS OVER FOREST FIRES

Minister Tunç announced that 168 people have been detained across Turkey as part of investigations into the forest fires since June 1. He also reported that 39 of these individuals have been arrested, and judicial control orders have been issued for 64 individuals.

"IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE PROCESS IS PERMANENT"

Minister Tunç also spoke about the commission to be established as part of the Terror-Free Turkey process. Emphasizing the critical importance of the process for Turkey, Minister Tunç said, "A new era has begun. The next phase is crucial. It is crucial that the process is permanent. To ensure its permanence, all state institutions are monitoring the process in coordination."

FORENSIC MEDICINE'S DECISION ON MURAT ÇALIK

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç also answered questions regarding Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık, who was arrested as part of the investigation into the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Minister Tunç noted that Çalık's treatment and examination process continues in the hospital and stated that the Forensic Medicine Institution will prepare a report following the report from the hospital.

Highlights from Yılmaz Tunç's statements are as follows:

The process of achieving a terror-free Turkey is of critical importance for our future. It is a crucial milestone in Turkey's history. This process was not achieved easily. The commission to be established in the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the work to be undertaken are crucial. The shaping and continuity of the process, and the decisions taken by the executive branch in line with the decisions resulting from it, are crucial.

"THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE WAS TERRORISM"

For 41 years, terrorism has been the biggest obstacle to our country's development. We've lost thousands of martyrs. The local people are restless. Terrorist organizations raided construction sites and inflicted immense damage on our country. If it weren't for the scourge of terrorism, Turkey would be a much more developed country. Despite the obstacle of terrorism, many successes have been achieved.

"OUR PRESIDENT'S HISTORICAL SPEECH WAS IMPORTANT"

The historic speech our President delivered in Ahlat last year was significant. Following the historic call made by Devlet Bahçeli in October and the subsequent statements from İmralı, the decision to dissolve the terrorist organization was made.

"ALL INSTITUTIONS ARE MONITORING THE PROCESS CAREFULLY"

We all witnessed the burning of weapons. The terrorist organization dissolved itself. A new era has begun. The next phase is crucial. It's crucial that this process be permanent. To ensure its permanence, all state institutions are monitoring the process in coordination.

This success cannot be achieved during coalition governments. This has become state policy. The commission currently being established in the Turkish Grand National Assembly is crucial. Our parties will express their views on this process there. The decisions made there are crucial. Our political parties and members of parliament will make significant contributions to this process.

"LAW REGULATIONS ARE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TBMM"

The decision to dissolve the terrorist organization and disarm it is not the result of a bargaining chip. We have been saying this from the beginning. Everything we have done so far has been for our nation. Our nation knows full well that the AK Party and the People's Alliance will not take any steps against this nation. Opinions will be expressed when the commission begins its work. Necessary legislative amendments are at the discretion of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

RELEASE OF SICK PRISONERS

Parliament made a provision regarding sick detainees in the 10th Judicial Package. To make this provision more applicable, the penalty amounts were adjusted. A new assessment was made for women, children, and age categories. With the amendment passed by Parliament, implementation has begun.

The regulation regarding sick prisoners and detainees is as follows: If their sentences are under five years, they can serve their sentences at home. Our parliament made the following change: instead of postponements, they are serving sentences at home. The law was amended to allow these prisoners to serve their sentences at home.

"WE ARE PREPARING FOR THE NEW JUDICIAL PACKAGE"

We are preparing for the 11th Judicial Reform Package. We have implemented numerous judicial reform packages that are relevant to the entire society. Specifically, there are 264 goals aimed at ensuring the efficiency of legal proceedings, eliminating lengthy trials, and strengthening our judicial capacity. We will continue to submit these legislative amendments to Parliament's assessment.

POLEM FOR RELEASE OF PKK CONVICTS

The issue at hand is this: Articles 220 and 314 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) stipulated that those who commit crimes on behalf of a terrorist organization, while not being a member of one, would be punished for both the crime they committed and their membership in the organization. The Constitutional Court ruled to annul this provision. Our Parliament enacted a new regulation. Those who commit crimes on behalf of the organization would be punished for both the crime they committed and face prison sentences of five to 10 years. A new appeal was filed with the Constitutional Court, which again ruled to annul the provision. Following this decision, Parliament did not enact any new regulations.

Those who commit crimes on behalf of the organization are serving the prescribed sentence. It is untrue that 700 people will be released. This is due to Parliament's failure to enact a new regulation in line with the Constitutional Court's reasoning.

Release of Veysi Aktas

Veysi Aktaş has not been released following any legal arrangements. He was sentenced for killing two PKK members on the grounds of spying for the PKK terrorist organization. This sentence carries a conditional release period of 30 years. After serving 30 years, he applies for release, and these applications are often denied. He is released after 32 years. He is released after his sentence is completed.

WILL THERE BE AN EXECUTION REGULATION?

It was always brought up as the July 31st law. They had taken advantage of Covid leave during the Covid period. As of July 31, 2023, that period expired, and therefore, those on leave on July 31, 2023, were granted a new right; those with five years remaining until release continued to serve their sentences on probation; they were not allowed back in.

There was discussion about whether a new regulation could be implemented. No new regulation was made at the discretion of Parliament. This is not an issue the DEM Party raised in Parliament. The DEM Party had already requested that terrorist offenders also benefit from this COVID leave regulation when it was being developed.

WILL CHILDREN'S TRIAL CHANGE?

Studies have been conducted on this issue. We have several proposals to the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Protecting children from all kinds of dangers and harmful situations is the most important duty of our state. Regulations have been introduced to ensure deterrent penalties.

The topic under discussion is to establish criminal justice. Every country's penal codes are different. Therefore, based on our assessments with our scientists, lawyers, academics, and the members and heads of relevant departments that handle these crimes, and considering public sentiment, we will consider whether the 15-18 age group could become a new category. These are all topics of discussion.

There is no definitive, established situation. What matters is ensuring criminal justice for children.

FOREST FIRES INVESTIGATION

Regarding the judicial aspect, our chief public prosecutor's office will certainly launch an investigation. Efforts are underway to determine the cause of the fire. As of June 1st, 168 suspects have been detained, 39 arrested. Judicial control orders have been issued for 64 of them. Investigations are ongoing.

There are 127 people in prison for causing forest fires in the past, 67 of whom are convicts.

FORENSIC MEDICINE'S DECISION ON MURAT ÇALIK

Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık is currently in the hospital. Both treatment and tests are ongoing. He expressed discomfort while in custody, and reports were submitted to the Forensic Medicine Institute. The Forensic Medicine Institute evaluated the reports and requested further tests. They decided that the inmate would be kept under observation in the hospital for these tests, and that the reports would be reviewed upon completion of the examination.

The forensic report is a purely technical matter. The panel will decide on this. Decisions can be made once the report is submitted to the judiciary. The court has discretion even before the report is received. The judiciary can make a decision even before the report is received. The scope of the case, the reason for the detention... all of these factors are considered.

The matter is entirely a matter of decision that will be made after the examinations at Izmir Training and Research Hospital reach the Forensic Medicine Department.

INVESTIGATIONS AGAINST MUNICIPALITIES

Regarding municipal investigations, this is a judicial investigation. Expressing an opinion without knowing the contents of the file or seeing the evidence is inappropriate in terms of judicial independence. Investigations into CHP municipalities are entirely conducted by judicial authorities.

These investigations include the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) report, testimonies, and confessors' testimonies. This investigation has been conducted since the situation began to be perceived as a money tower. These investigations have also spread to the districts.

While the investigation continues here, we also see that corruption continues. It was caught red-handed in Manavgat, it was caught red-handed in Şile. In Izmir, it was their own mayors who sent reports about the former mayor to the prosecutor's office.