Members of the Parliamentary Justice Commission of the People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) held a press conference in Parliament regarding the 10th Judicial Package. The conference was attended by MPs Zülküf Uçar, Ali Bozan, Nevroz Uysal Aslan, and Dilan Kunt Ayan.

Dilan Kunt Ayan stated that the package was not in line with the spirit of the ongoing process for the resolution of the Kurdish issue and that their demands and proposals were not reflected in the package. She continued: "The package has been prepared with an approach that turns a deaf ear to the calls of the people, the law, and the victimized groups. The ‘Call for Peace and a Democratic Society’ made by Mr. Öcalan on February 27 opened the doors to a new historical, political, and social process. The subsequent May 12 Statement (the PKK decision to disband and disarm) is a historic step that has strengthened the hope for a shared future between the Turkish and Kurdish peoples. Every legal step taken in such an atmosphere should aim to contribute to an honorable peace and coexistence.

In particular, changes to the execution regulations have caused deep disappointment for tens of thousands of prisoners and their families. Necessary improvements for political prisoners, sick prisoners, and those subjected to systematic discrimination in prisons are not included. Existing inequalities are being further deepened. The package contains provisions that are contrary to the Constitution, lack legal predictability, and are arbitrary and discriminatory. The grievances arising from previous changes to the Law on Execution of Sentences have not been addressed. The sense of justice has once again been sacrificed to political plans. This bill has turned its back on society's demand for justice and has failed to consider the possibilities for democratic solutions, social peace, and legal equality.

The reforms that the public have been eagerly awaiting for years have once again been excluded from the scope of the legislation, and the public conscience has been wounded once more. The public expected this package to provide unconditional and equal release and treatment opportunities for sick prisoners and to remedy the legal inequalities caused by the Covid Law of July 31, 2023. The public was hoping for the lifting of conditional release bans on repeat offenders and secondary repeat offenders without any distinction based on the nature of the crime, and seeking equality for political prisoners excluded from the 2020 Discriminatory Law on Execution of Sentences. The public demanded regulations that would contribute to a legal, predictable, and fair execution system for everyone, free from arbitrary and discriminatory execution practices. And these expectations are not hopes generated by the people themselves; they are the result of promises and commitments made by Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç to the public.

We will submit a proposal to remove the exception for aggravated life sentences from the draft amendment to Article 110, paragraph 3 of the Law on Execution of Sentences. We will also request the removal of the vague and arbitrary condition that prisoners who are seriously ill must not pose a serious and concrete threat to public safety. We will submit our proposal to the commission to remove discriminatory provisions that prevent political prisoners from benefiting from special execution procedures intended for women, children, and the elderly. Additionally, we will submit proposals for the introduction of new articles.

We will submit a motion proposing that the July 31 Covid Law be amended in an equitable and legally compliant manner and included in the package as a new special provision. We will propose that the phrase “imminent danger to life” be removed from Article 16 of the Law on Execution of Sentences in connection with the prisoners with serious illnesses and replaced with “existing serious illness.” The Commission and government representatives must heed the public's demands for equality and justice. It is not too late to consider our proposals in a pluralistic, solution-oriented, and democratic manner and to amend the package accordingly. As you know, these changes can be made both in the Commission and in the General Assembly of the Parliament.

We will oppose these shortcomings and inequalities with the loudest voice possible at the commission stage, at the General Assembly stage, and wherever we are. We will continue to defend social peace, the rule of law, justice, and equality.”