Government has sent an amendment to Parliament on making defense in mother tongue at courts.
Turkish government has sent an amendment to Parliament on Monday on making defense in mother tongue at courts.
Defense in mother tongue is part of a 13-article amendment proposal to the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK) and to the Law on Execution of Penalties & Security Precautions.
The legal arrangement will enable suspects to defend themselves in their mother tongue at courts.
The reasoning of the proposal says that “the defendants are given the opportunity to make verbal defense in a language they better express themselves”.
It was one of the three key demands of recent hunger strikes in Turkey. Over 700 mostly Kurdish hunger strikers are demanding an end to the isolation of imprisoned head of terrorist organization Abdullah Ocalan, and an end to restrictions against Kurdish language in the courts and the education system.
The proposal also plans a chance for married prisoners for private visits with their spouses without the presence of prison staff from three hours to 24 hours and once in three months. Also, children prisoners will meet with their parents without the presence of prison staff from three hours to 24 hours and once in two months.
If the proposal is approved, the implementation of sentences of prisoners who cannot survive alone in prisons due to serious illnesses or handicap may also be postponed.
(For original story http://www.aa.com.tr/en/headline/99565–turkish-gvt-sends-amendment-on-defense-in-mother-tongue-to-parliament)
Reported by Anatolia News
