Turkish Magistrates Warn against Subjection of Judiciary

Turkey's Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors has adopted a position against legislative amendments to reform the judiciary tabled by ruling party AKP.

"With the proposed amendments, the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors is ineffect subjucated to the Minister of Justice," said the magistrates.

"It is to be clearly seen, that with this, an attempt is being made to politicize the Council," added they.

"The proposed amendments are in breach of the principle of the rule of law, insribed in the Turkish constitution. AKP's proposal cancels the independence of teh Supreme Council," stated the magistrates.

Since December, Turkey has been shaken by a high-profile corruption probe, which has forced Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan to replace half of his cabinet.

While Erdogan has dismissed the investigation as a plot orchestrated to illicitly force him out of power, opposition leaders have retorted by criticizing the executive over its alleged efforts to pressure the judiciary and hush down the probe.

Thursday, Turkey's President Abdullah Gul delivered a speech in which he stressed that the separation of powers needs to be upheld in Turkey.

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