Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Opposition leader in Turkey under investigation

"U can't touch this!" Yes, that is what the Turkish judiciary says about critiques directed against itself.

The Silivri Public Chief Prosecution launched an investigation about Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Chairman of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP). The probe is based on an alleged "attempt to influence a fair trial" because of Kılıçdaroğlu's statements about the judges of the Ergenekon trial. Ergenekon trial is also where journalists Ahmet Şık and Nedim Şener, along with many others who are being tried. This means, any criticism brought about this case, even by the opposition leader will also be criminalized.

Such silencing approaches to the discussions about the case would not be a first, considering how it was declared back in March 2011 that even having a copy of Ahmet Şık's book on the Gülen movement's connections with the law enforcement would be considered as Ergenekon membership and thus the person in question would also be prosecuted for helping "terrorists."

Since then, the book has been published; and the prosecutor has been replaced, but apparently not the mentality.

To read more on Kılıçdaroğlu's case, visit Bianet.