Recent changes to the Prison Regulations, which have remained a hot topic, have sparked debates about the government’s attempts to provide special advantages to certain individuals. The National Unity Party (UBP), Democratic Party (DP), and Rebirth Party (YDP) government has significantly broadened the authority of the prison director to grant sentence reductions.
New Powers Granted to the Prison Director
According to the new regulations, prison directors can now waive one-third of inmates’ sentences based on good behavior and diligence. This provision took effect starting August 3, coinciding with the commencement of releases. However, while this change aims to reduce prison overcrowding, some critics have associated it with providing benefits to certain individuals and “political calculations ahead of elections.”
Immediately following the regulation, the appointment of Ahmet Tosun to the post of Central Prison Director, which had been vacant for seven months, also drew attention. The public has raised questions about whether Tosun’s appointment is related to the newly implemented regulations. Legal circles have pointed out that granting extensive discretionary powers to a single individual could be dangerous for judicial independence.
Critiques and Reactions
Kudret Özersay, the leader of the People’s Party (HP), emphasized that the purpose of the regulation should be clearly articulated. He stated that criteria like “good behavior” and “diligence” could serve as an excuse for arbitrary interpretations, suggesting that this situation risks turning the prison director into a king.
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) MP Ürün Solyalı also highlighted that the modification could undermine the principle of separation of powers. Criticisms indicating that this may weaken the impact of judicial decisions and possess a lack of legality were echoed by Güven Bengihan, the president of the KTAMS union related to prisons. Bengihan claimed that the changes were politically motivated and that prisoners were being used as electoral investments.
Former Ombudsman Emine Dizdarlı pointed out that altering court decisions by the prison director is a troubling situation. Lawyer Aslı Murat argued that discussions should not be limited to releases and stressed the need for a uniformly applicable execution system, advocating for the establishment of new execution rules.
The only response from the government came from Transportation Minister Erhan Arıklı, who rebutted the criticisms by asserting that new powers had not been granted to the prison director. He claimed that these powers have actually existed since 2005 and that the recent changes pertained only to the reduction period.
Source: www.yeniduzen.com
