ABTTF President: “We have witnessed the politicisation of the justice system and the direct influence of politics on the justice system many times during the 16 years we have been waiting for the execution of the ECtHR judgments in the Bekir-Ousta and others group of cases. The dissolution of our Fenerbahce association, which is a simple fans’ association, despite the fact that it has not violated the statute, is the closest and clearest example of this situation’’.
The Coordination Committee of the Plenary of the Presidents of the Greek Bar Associations lodged a petition to the European Parliament and the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe about the failures in the rule of law and the administration of justice in Greece.
The Coordination Committee of the Plenary of the Presidents of the Greek Bar Associations held an extraordinary meeting on 25 June 2024, following a statement by the Court of Cassation and the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Court of Cassation, in which it was indicated that the Court of Cassation discredit lawyers and directly attack lawyers by transferring the issues of justice in Greece to the legal profession. The Coordination Committee criticised the Court of Cassation’s refraining from expressing an opinion on the delays in the administration of justice, the restriction of rights contrary to the Constitution, the ECHR and the case-law of the ECtHR, as well as the issues related to the rule of law.
The Coordination Committee said that the defence of the rule of law is one of the main priorities for the Bar Associations and that the rule of law is directly linked to the essence of democracy and the European perspective of the country. The Committee noted that it has decided to submit a report to the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe on the administration of justice and the rule of law, as well as an appeal to the European Parliament.
President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) Halit Habip Oğlu made the following statement: “The statement made by the Greek Bar Associations indicates that the issues in the functioning of justice in our country stem not from the lawyers but from the justice system itself. The fact that the Cour of Cassation and the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Court of Cassation refrain from expressing an opinion on the issues regarding justice in the country and attribute the existing issues to lawyers raises the question of how independent justice is in the country. We have witnessed the politicisation of the justice system and the direct influence of politics on the justice system many times during the 16 years we have been waiting for the execution of the ECtHR judgments in the Bekir-Ousta and others group of cases. The closure of our Fenerbahçe Association, which is a simple fans’ association, despite the fact that it has not violated the statute, is the closest and clearest example of this situation. The Bar Associations’ decision to raise the issues in the justice system in our country to the EU level is important, as the rule of law is the essence of democracy, and its protection is crucial for the future of our country.”
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