BY ERGUN BABAHAN
SABAH- Not only has Turkey made a more democratic Constitution out of a restrained one, but also taken serious steps towards a liberal justice system. A country is democratic not just for its constitution, but also by virtue of the inviolability of fundamental rights, freedom of thought and conscience, and an impartial justice system. In its reforms, Turkey took important strides towards establishing the foundations of a modern rule of law.
The best method would be to establish a broad new concise text to replace the current version, which micromanages rather than functioning as a basic law, but for now the atmosphere in Turkey won’t allow this. A bill proposing reforms to the Penal Code slated to face Parliament is an important part of the reform package. With this law Turkey will have a penal code in which the rights of individuals are prior to those of the state.
Contrary to popular belief, the greatest obstacle to foreign investment in Turkey is our justice system and a lack of confidence in the rule of law. Therefore the main task is not so much preparing laws, but actually implementing them. In order to start accession talks with the European Union, Turkey must find a solution to this problem, because our country, with its development, capital and constitutional history spanning more than a century, deserves a modern justice system.