Can Atalay

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç has proposed the necessity of drafting a new constitution in the wake of a deepening disagreement between the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court over the imprisonment of MP Can Atalay.

The minister's proposition aligns with the long-standing efforts of the government.

The best way to resolve the ongoing row between the two high courts is the new constitution, as the current charter has contradictory articles about the duties and responsibilities of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Appeals, Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç has said.

The Supreme Court of Appeals has decided to file criminal complaints against members of the Constitutional Court over a profound disagreement on the case of imprisoned Workers' Party of Türkiye (TİP) lawmaker Can Atalay, in a first and unprecedented legal dispute in the history of the Turkish judiciary.

Türkiye's top court has ruled in favor of Can Atalay, the imprisoned lawmaker from the Workers' Party of Türkiye (TİP), declaring a "violation of rights in terms of the right to be elected and the right to personal liberty and security" in his case related to the 2013 Gezi Park protests.

The authorities have refused to grant permission for the annual commemoration of those killed in Turkey's deadliest ever mine disaster in the Soma district of the western province of Manisa, which occurred in May 2014. 

Prominent journalist Ahmet Şık has been kept in isolation in prison, according to his lawyer who recently visited him. 

Şık, who was arrested on Dec. 30, 2016, over several tweets and his articles for daily Cumhuriyet, was denied drinking water for three days and has not had access to the news, daily Cumhuriyet reported Jan. 6. 

The lawyer of arrested Turkish journalist Ahmet Şık said on Dec. 31 that his team will appeal against a court decision to arrest him.

An Istanbul court on Dec. 30 ordered the arrest of prominent journalist Ahmet Şık, one day after he was detained over several tweets and his articles for daily Cumhuriyet.

Earlier in the day, Şık had been referred to Çağlayan courthouse following his proceedings at the police headquarters. 

Turkish journalist Ahmet Şık, who was detained in Istanbul on Dec. 29 over several tweets and articles, has been referred to court for arrest.

Istanbul prosecutor Fahrettin Kerim Yerli had arrived at police headquarters to take Şık's testimony but Şık refused to answer Yerli's questions, lawyer Can Atalay said.