Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer marked the opening of the 2006-2007 judicial year with a message to Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Justice Osman Arslan, praising the judiciary's commitment to universal legal principles and the legacy of Atatürk's reforms.
Sezer said the courts have continued to defend Türkiye's secular and democratic order even in the face of pressure and violence, describing judicial independence as a cornerstone of any law-governed state.
He urged all branches of the legal system to remain free from outside influence, including political ideologies, and called for adequate security protections for judges and prosecutors.
The president also said that respecting court decisions is a fundamental expression of confidence in the rule of law and in democratic governance.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.