Erdogan uses the judiciary to punish opponents

Thousands of Turkey’s judges and prosecutors have been sacked or jailed as Erdogan's government wields the judiciary against its opponents. They have been replaced by loyal and inexperienced newcomers, some in their 20s, plunging the courts into crisis.

The head of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu reiterated his criticism of a law passed by the Turkish parliament earlier this week to allow the release of tens of thousands of prisoners in order to ease overcrowding in jails and protect detainees from the coronavirus.

Kilicdaroglu, who is the leader of the main opposition in Turkey, slammed the law for excluding journalists and opposition politicians, revealing that his party would file an appeal to Turkey's constitutional court.

Kilicdaroglu warned that Erdogan’s moves would lead to the collapse of his rule. He said that Erdogan has suspended the parliament for 45 days, as part of the measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic, after passing bills that he had sponsored.

Istanbul Bar Association chairman Mehmet Durakoglu said that by using the judiciary as a tool against its opponents, Erdogan’s government “has achieved what it couldn’t do by political means” at the ballot box.

Ali Babacan, the leader of the Democracy and Progress Party, also criticized the decision of the Radio and Television Supreme Council to issue FOX Turkey and other media outlets with a broadcast ban as a result of a report critical of the Turkish government’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Regulators should not be used as a punishment stick by the political authority,”, "The decision violates media rights granted by the constitution", said Babacan.