Erdogan: “accelerate reforms” after EU criticism
Ankara (AsiaNews) – “There will certainly be an acceleration”: said Premier Erdogan to those who asked him to comment on the server criticism from the European Union, according to whom Turkey has slowed down its political reform process sin 2007, which risks distancing the country from its goal of joining the European Community. Erdogan admitted that he shared European consternation and explained that the slowing down was due to the internal political crises. “But now – he added – we are in a new phase and there certainly will be acceleration”.
The annual report from the European Enlargement Commission, which verifies Turkey’s progress in its steps to joining Europe, was published on November 6th.
The 82 page document drawn up by Finn Olli Rehn, speaks clearly: Turkey has slowed down its political reform process sin 2007, only realising limited progress. The premier Erdogan is praised for having dealt “democratically” with tensions with the military at the beginning of the year, ready to defend the secular nature of the nation despite being a moderate Muslim, but Brussels adds a strong appeal for renewed efforts for reform, in particular; an improvement in freedom of expression and of religions, union rights, the political control of the army, the rights of religious minorities, the fight against corruption, and the rights and freedom of the Kurd minority.
But the sticking point once again surrounds article 301 of the Constitution. According to this article anyone who sullies the “Turkishness” can been punished, a crime which is used by the Turkish state and which has even led to the incrimination of Orhan Pamuk, Noble Laureate for literature.
Without mincing words the report warns: Turkey cannot join the European Union until it has substantially modified this article of the penal code. “It is no longer acceptable in a European democracy – reads the document – that writers, journalists, university students and other intellectuals are persecuted for simply having expressed an opinion or a criticism, completely devoid of violent connotations”.
Speaking from a visit to Azerbaijan, President of the Republic Abdullah Gul, referred to the report with the defence: “This article of the Constitution is damaging the nations’ image: abroad everyone believes that speaking openly or ex pressing oneself is forbidden. This is a great injustice. Either ways I myself have frequently spoken out on the need to modify article 301”.
Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin has assured that he is set to present Turkey’s parliament with a proposal to reform the norm which limits freedom of expression. This amendment has been long promised. More than a month ago, in view of the EU annual report, Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s executive had guaranteed significant changes to article 301. But the draft proposal currently under consideration in Ankara does not foresee the elimination of the norm: it merely changes its nuance, substituting “Turkisness” with “Turkish nation”. The draft also places limits on public minister’s discretions, which will have to submit themselves to the consensus of the Minister for Justice before beginning any judicial inquests. Currently they are free to start up investigations to verify and condemn presumed criminals. Finally the draft also considers substituting prison sentences with sanctions. However the fact remains that in this light expressions or thoughts which are critical of Turkish identity or of the Turkish Republic will continue to be seen as crimes.
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19/01/2022 20:29
