Judiciary reform bid sparks controversy in Turkey

Turkey’s fourth judicial package hits Parliament amid growing controversy and disappointment as many expect it will fail to meet expectations, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

he long-awaited fourth judicial package sparked controversy when it arrived in Parliament on March 7, but is not likely to satisfy the high expectations that have built up over time in its current state, particularly concerning the situation of convicts charged with membership to a terrorist organization.

The package’s main amendments relate to creating propaganda for terrorism and terror organizations and the package does not currently allow for the release of detainees in cases concerning the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), the alleged urban wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), as their cases relate more to charges of membership in a terrorist organization rather than propaganda charges.