Turkey’s Ministry of Justice has finalised the draft of the 10th Judicial Reform Package, sparking debate over possible sentence reductions, while officials insist that a general amnesty is not on the table. Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç confirmed that there are no current plans, stating, “There is no study on a general amnesty, nor is it on our agenda.” Instead, the draft focuses on reforms to the execution of sentences and supervised release mechanisms.
The package reportedly includes proposals to expand the scope of supervised release and reduce execution rates for specific offences. These changes could affect tens of thousands of prisoners, prompting discussion over whether they might amount to an indirect amnesty.
Concerns have been expressed by opposition voices and legal experts over the lack of clarity in the draft. Dilan Kunt Ayan, a deputy from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party and a member of the Justice Commission, criticised the draft for its lack of democratic vision and for introducing new forms of discrimination.
Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, the DEM Party’s Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair, commented that the draft currently under discussion “must support the ongoing process, strengthen the current climate of peace, contribute to a democratic solution to the Kurdish question, and respond to the expectations of society and those in prison”. She warned that a draft “that offers no concrete solution and fails to meet these needs would be a deep disappointment and could negatively affect the process.”
Journalist Hilal Köylü reported that Abdullah Güler, the Parliamentary Group Chair of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), has begun consultations with all parliamentary parties to collect feedback on the draft. Köylü noted that revisions are expected based on the input received and added that the draft could be submitted to parliament before the upcoming Eid holiday, although debate and ratification would probably follow afterwards. She also stated that surprises are possible, particularly given the personal involvement of President Erdoğan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, both of whom have issued direct instructions to their party teams.
In a resolution adopted on 7 May 2025, the European Parliament urged Turkey to implement structural reforms to guarantee judicial independence. The resolution also called on Ankara to bring its judicial practices into line with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and to enforce rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The draft 10th Judicial Reform Package is expected to be submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly in the coming days. Observers will assess whether the proposed changes align with European human rights standards and judicial independence.
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