Turkey’s non-Muslims concerned over court system changes

PanARMENIAN.Net - As there is a government plan to pass a law that would abolish or significantly curtail the powers of Turkey's specially authorized courts, Turkey's non-Muslims have voiced their concerns over this and indicated that progress in important cases must not be affected by the changes, according to Today’s Zaman.

“Our concern is in regards to the fate of current cases such as Ergenekon, Zirve and Hrant Dink. Changes to the law must not affect the progress of these key cases which are not only important for the non-Muslim community but also for entire Turkey,” said Tatyos Bebek, a civil society activist from the Armenian community.

Bebek was referring to the Ergenekon case - a clandestine organization nested within the state that was trying to manipulate and overthrow the democratically elected government; the Cage (Kafes) case - a plan that targeted Turkey's non-Muslims to create chaos and grounds for military interference; the Zirve case, which involved the killing of Christian missionaries in Malatya; and the murder of Hrant Dink, editor-in-chief of Agos Armenian-Turkish weekly.

“Government officials say that ongoing cases will not be affected by the changes. That's what we expect. If the changes are going to eliminate the allegations that there are unfair practices conducted by these special courts, then the new law will bring positive changes,” said İvo Vedat Molinas, the editor-in-chief of Shalom, a Jewish community newspaper in Turkey.

According to the government's plans, the new bill will be passed before Parliament adjourns for summer recess on July 1. There are predictions that the new law might lead to the release of hundreds of gang members, drug traffickers, terrorists and terror suspects, Today’s Zaman says.