Turkey releases main opposition senior official amid judicial 'reforms’

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region –  A Turkish court ordered the release of a senior official of the country’s main opposition party late on Thursday, following the passing of judicial “reforms” by Ankara earlier this month.

Eren Erdem, a member of the People’s Republican Party (CHP) executive council, was released after spending 490 days behind bars at the Silivri Prison in Istanbul. He was detained on June 29, 2018 for alleged support of Fethullah Gulen, a former ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later blamed for the July 2016 failed coup attempt.

Erdem’s release had previously been ordered, but the decrees were later reversed by higher courts.

Officials from opposition parties including the CHP and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) have been subject to detention, particularly since the 2016 failed coup attempt. Those arrested include former HDP co-leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, both of whom have remained imprisoned since being arrested on November 4, 2016.

In addition to officials, thousands of the HDP members and supporters have been detained for their opposition to government policy on Kurds. Most have been held on terror-related charges. 

Hopes for the release of HDP lawmaker Abdullah Zeydan, arrested on the same day as Demirtas and Yuksekdag, were dashed on Friday after a court release order was swiftly reversed.

News of the release order was reported by Demirtas’ lawyer, Mahsuni Karaman.

“Due to changes in law, his charges were dropped and he was ordered released, based on an appeal [by lawyers],” Mahsuni said in a tweet.

He apologized in a subsequent tweet, saying the court had reversed its decision.

In a statement released on Friday night, the HDP issued scathing criticism of the Turkish judiciary system's treatment of Zeydan.

"The court first orders the release of our [former] deputy, Abdullah Zeydan. Then, the Palace prosecutors appeal it," the HDP said, referring to those prosecutors the party claims are pro-Erdogan.

"Two hours later, it [court] orders the continuation of his imprisonment. The courts are pirates, there is no law and the prosecutors belong to [Erdogan's] Palace."

Erdogan was reported by state media to have said in September that  judiciary system “reforms” will “strengthen trust in the judiciary [and] have an important place in our efforts to take our country to a brighter future.”

The first package of reforms was passed by Turkish parliament on October 17, with a view to amend legislation on freedom of speech, passports, and the protection of children.

The changes were to make a distinction between those who denounce government action “for the purpose of criticism” and those who “cross the limits of reporting,” according to state media outlet Anadolu Agency.

However, Turkey’s recent crackdown on those who have condemned its Operation Peace Spring against Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria has been widely slammed.

The most recent criticism came from Amnesty International on Thursday.      

“As the tanks rolled across the Syrian border, the government took the opportunity to launch a domestic campaign to eradicate dissenting opinions from media, social media and the streets. Critical discussion on issues of Kurdish rights and politics has become even further off limits,” said Amnesty’s Europe Director, Marie Struthers.

“Language around the military incursion was heavily policed, and hundreds of people who expressed their dissenting opinions about Turkey’s military operation were rounded up and are facing investigations under anti-terrorism laws,” she added.