Democracy watch participant lawyer Kemal Aytaç: We are taking a stance against lawlessness

Eylem NAZLIER
İstanbul

Istanbul Bar Association is holding a Justice Watch in protest at the Supreme Election Council (SEC)’s decision to annul the Istanbul Metropolitan Mayoral election and re-run it.

Lawyer Kemal Aytaç, who is participating in the watch protest, says, “Support is coming from various circles, professional chambers and entertainers. We’re trying to make our voice heard to all circles. We are taking a stance against lawlessness and this foolhardiness.”

Lawyers, congregating in front of the Istanbul Bar Association located in Taksim, are maintaining a Solidarity Watch for Democracy each weekday. The watch is in its eighteenth day. The banner, “We are on the watch on the side of democracy on 23 June. A lawyer at every ballot box along with our colleagues who will do their bit from all corners of our country” is draped from the building housing the Istanbul Bar Association. The banner attracts the attention of passers-by. There are those who stop and take photographs. With jurists taking part in the watch that lasts from 7-8 pm every weekday, passers-by give their support with applause and the singing of songs. The number of attendees at the watch is increasing as time passes. The slogans, “Everything will be just fine” and “Rights, law and justice” are frequently chanted during the watch.

Tourists also look with curious eyes and try to make sense of it. A lawyer we spoke to talks of the difficulty they had explaining the situation to tourists and describes the brief dialogue he had with tourists: “The tourist asked what’s happening here and I had trouble explaining. My first job was to look up what ‘certificate of election’ is in English. It’s very hard to be able to explain this situation to tourists.”

It is not only tourists and passers-by who join in the songs. Some police officers are joining in with the songs now and again.

“WHAT MATTERS IS PROTECTING DEMOCRACY”

I speak to Kemal Aytaç, Attorney-at-Law, who has been participating in the watch from the first day. Citizens have been speaking of their longing for democracy and the law for a long time. Pointing to the rights usurpations in recent years, Aytaç says, “Against lawyers, against academics, against journalists; they are undergoing serious assault against all opposition segments of society. Unjust and unlawful arrests and detentions are taking place.” Stressing that the annulment of the Istanbul election has been added to this lawlessness, Aytaç comments, “We are holding a democracy watch every day in front of the Istanbul Bar Association. Support is coming from various circles, professional chambers and entertainers. We’re trying to make our voice heard to all circles. We’re taking a stance against lawlessness and this foolhardiness. We all need the struggle for democracy. The issue here is not the CHP winning. What matters is protecting democracy and the law. Democracy and the law have been violated. There is a ruling entity that disregards the law and democracy. In response to this, all sections of society must resist and create pressure in an active manner. I have faith in our people’s common sense. A result to which no objection will be possible will emerge from the ballot box on 23 June.”

“EVERYTHING WILL BE JUST FINE”

I speak to a citizen who has come to support the watch and does not wish to give their name. They regard the annulment of the election as a stain on democracy. Noting that Ekrem İmamoğlu had achieved an important success despite the pressure, the citizen says, “There is concern, people are stressed and the people are split in two. Nobody trusts the justice system in Turkey.”

Abdullah Sadıkoğulları, having come to give his support, says, “Everything will be just fine.” Indicating that he supports the watch, Sadıkoğulları is unhappy about the SEC annulling the election and comments, “They’ve annulled the election with reasons not even children believe.” Sadıkoğulları says, “It’s all an issue of graft. We’re here to stand up for the country. They tried to spread the policy of fear but people are no longer afraid.” I speak to a woman who says, “Let them huff and puff, everything will be just fine.”

(Translated by Tim Drayton)