Kitêbxaneya Kurdî

Press about the Kurds

August 3,  2002

Turkey Abolishes Death Penalty

Sat Aug 3,11:23 AM ET

By SUZAN FRASER, Associated Press Writer

Deputies of Nationalist Action Party react as they try to block a proposal to lift the death penalty at the parliament in Ankara, Turkey Friday, Aug. 2, 2002. The parliament voted Friday to include the abolition of the death penalty in a reform package meant to enhance the country's chances of joining the European Union. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's parliament abolished the death penalty and granted more rights to minority Kurds Saturday, taking a major step forward in its bid to join the European Union.

In a rowdy, all-night session, pro-EU legislators pushed through the legislation despite fierce opposition by nationalists — the largest group in parliament but without a majority — who are suspicious of the EU and say the reforms reward Kurdish rebels who waged a 15-year battle for autonomy in southeastern Turkey.

"Turkey has taken a giant step on the road to the EU," said Deputy Premier Mesut Yilmaz, whose party drafted the reform package.

The EU made abolishing the death penalty a condition for Turkey to join the group, while international groups have long lobbied for an end to restrictions on Kurdish education and language-use.

In Brussels, an EU statement welcomed the moves as "significant steps toward better protection of human rights and the rights of minorities in Turkey," but said it would carefully monitor their implementation.

The United States strongly supports the predominantly Muslim but secular nation's EU membership. Washington has touted NATO member Turkey as a possible model for other Muslim states.

But debate over the reforms is not over.

The nationalists say they may try to overturn them in Turkey's highest court and the new laws will likely be a major issue in November elections.

The legislation still needs to be approved by the president and published in the official gazette — both of which are expected. But Turkey has approved but failed to implement laws in the past, and it was not clear if Kurds, for example, could immediately open up Kurdish-language schools.

Earlier this year, Turkey approved measures for wider freedoms, but writers and human rights advocates continued to be charged.

"It's important that we have approved the legislation but what's even more important is implementation of reforms," said pro-Islamic legislator Abdullah Gul. "We have ratified reforms in the past but have made little headway in implementing them."

Saturday's measures will replace the death penalty with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Capital punishment remains on the books, however, during times of war.

Turkey has not executed anyone since 1984, although courts regularly impose death sentences. Dozens of people are on death row.

The reforms will legalize long-banned TV and radio broadcasts in the Kurdish language and allow Kurdish and other regional dialects to be taught in special courses.

The package also lifts certain restrictions on the right to associate and form civic organizations, and imposes stricter penalties for human trafficking. It allows non-Muslim minorities such as Greeks, Armenians and Jews greater rights over religious property.

European nations have been pressing Turkey to improve its much-criticized human rights record. The country has been dogged by accusations of torture in police stations and prisons. Turkey does not recognize its 12 million Kurds as a minority, and they have long been denied cultural rights.

An EU summit in December was to decide on expanding the 15-nation bloc and could set a date for Turkey's entry talks.

"I expect the EU to now set a date for membership negotiations," said Tuncay Ozilhan, the head of the pro-EU business and industrialists group, TUSIAD.

Polls show most Turks favor EU membership. But the nationalist party, which is a member of ailing Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's coalition government, has resisted the reforms required, saying they would fuel the war by Kurdish rebels.

The debate has divided Ecevit's coalition, aggravating a government crisis that led to the calling of November elections, 18 months ahead of schedule.

The parliament debate, which began Friday and stretched into Saturday morning, became loud and angry.

"We won't let those terrorists left in the mountains come down to the city and participate in (language) courses," said nationalist lawmaker Bozkurt Yasar Ozturk. "Rather than putting out a fire, we're making it bigger."

The floor erupted into laughter when legislator Mustafa Gecer compared Turkey to a lovelorn lover.

"This EU whose door we wait at so adoringly — will it ever return our love?" he said.

© SUZAN FRASER, Associated Press