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Turkey's deputy PM defends revamping judiciary, police

Türkiye Materials 3 March 2014 12:43 (UTC +04:00)
Turkey's deputy PM defends revamping judiciary, police
Turkey's deputy PM defends revamping judiciary, police

Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc defended his government's reforms in the judiciary and police since December 17, declaring that non-action could result in the collapse of Turkey Anadoly Agecny reported

During his appearance in the Turkish private broadcaster CNN Turk on Sunday night, Arinc addressed a wide array of hot topics including the developments in the aftermath of the Dec. 17 anti-graft operation, the closure of private tutoring centers and the length of pre-trial detentions.

"If nothing had been done in the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) and in the police department [after Dec. 17], Turkey would have found itself in chaos today," Arinc said.

An Istanbul-based anti-graft operation launched on December 17, 2013, in Turkey caused controversy after it led to high-profile arrests.

The Turkish government called the probe a "dirty plot" against it, constructed by a "parallel state within the state" that it said was nestled within the judiciary and police.

The government retaliated against the "plot" by restructuring the country's top judicial board HSYK and demoting a number of police chiefs and prosecutors, who it considers are affiliated with the "parallel state."

"If the plot had attained its goals, it would lead to the collapse of not only the government but also Turkey altogether," Arinc said.

One of the most senior voices in the Turkish cabinet, Arinc said the government's decision to close down the private tutoring centers, widely known as 'dershanes' is a "political choice" and time will show if it is a right or wrong decision.

"If we are wrong, we will bear the consequences; but if we are right, the youth will win," he said.

The Turkish government announced plans last November to eradicate the dershanes, a substantial number of which are run by a movement headed by Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic preacher living in self-imposed exile in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

The announcement of the plan triggered a conflict between the government and Gulen, whose followers have been accused by the government of infiltrating key state institutions and of forming an illegal "parallel state" which conducted the Dec. 17 operation.

Arinc scorned the alleged threats by the Gulen followers for leaking Prime Minister Erdogan's wiretapped phone calls, saying, "Mr. Prime Minister is a brave man, he had already said to them 'Do your worst'."

Arinc also responded to the criticism that businessman Reza Zarrab, who was detained as part of the Dec. 17 operation, was released within a short time although the Ergenekon and Sledgehammer coup case detainees stayed in custody for years.

He said he had always been critical of holding detainees for lengthy and indefinite periods in pretrial detention.

"[Zarrab's release] hurt people's conscience. I am not saying "Let him stay in jail,' but I would like to see to what extent this businessman affected the treasury," Arinc said.

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