The European Parliament, in its draft Turkey Report, explicitly listed Justice Minister Akın Gürlek among those to be considered under the EU's human rights sanctions mechanism. The draft will be voted on June 17.

The report stated that Justice Minister Akın Gürlek is among the individuals to be considered for sanctions under the European Union's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. Slovenian MEP Vladimir Prebilic, who steered the draft report, claimed that Ankara has made efforts to have Gürlek's name removed from the text. The report calls for various restrictive measures, including the freezing of assets within EU borders, against officials deemed responsible for serious human rights and fundamental freedoms violations in Turkey. In this context, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek's name was included in the text as "one of the key figures in the state's repressive apparatus." The report recalled Gürlek's past roles as Chief Public Prosecutor of Istanbul and assessed that he "acted like a political actor pursuing a political agenda throughout his career."

AKIN GÜRLEK ON EU SANCTIONS AGENDA FOR THE FIRST TIME

Although European Parliament resolutions are not binding, the fact that a Turkish minister's name is being associated with the European Union's sanction mechanisms for the first time is noteworthy.

If the report is adopted, Akın Gürlek will not automatically be placed on the sanctions list. However, the European Parliament will exert political pressure by calling on the European Commission and the EU Council to initiate a sanctions process against Gürlek.

Under the EU's Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, enacted in 2020, numerous individuals from Russia, Iran, Belarus, Syria, Venezuela, Sudan, and Myanmar have been added to the sanctions list to date. The consideration of a Turkish individual in this context is seen as a first.

PREBILIC: "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, WE ARE NOT JOKING"

Slovenian MEP Vladimir Prebilic, who played a key role in drafting the report, told Cansu Çamlıbel from T24 that they had informed Ankara about the proposal and received the response, "Is there anything we can do to have this name removed?"

Prebilic stated that they view Gürlek as "one of the main actors in judicial processes conducted with political motivation," and that the sanctions they propose include freezing his assets and accounts within the EU and restricting his financial transactions.

Prebilic explained that they had provided prior information to Turkish officials during their meetings and reiterated that Ankara had made efforts to have Gürlek's name removed from the text.

Prebilic recounted that İsmail Karayel, the AKP Co-Chair of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, asked them, "What can we do to remove this name from the text?" and that he responded:

"You are asking the wrong question. We are not the ones who will remove this name from the text. It is the steps Turkey will take in the fields of law and democracy."

Prebilic emphasized that the message to Ankara is clear, stating, "Enough is enough, we are not joking."

THE REPORT IS SIGNED BY NACHO SÁNCHEZ AMOR

The report, to be voted on by the European Parliament Plenary on June 17, is signed by Nacho Sánchez Amor, the Spanish Social Democrat MEP and European Parliament Rapporteur on Turkey.

The report assesses that there has been a serious deterioration in the rule of law, judicial independence, and democratic standards in Turkey.

HARSH CRITICISMS IN THE REPORT

The draft text states:

- The "authoritarian interpretation" of the Presidential Government System has eroded judicial independence,

- The investigations against CHP's presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu are political in nature,

- The use of secret witnesses violates the right to a fair trial,

- The Council of Judges and Prosecutors is not independent of the government,

- The judiciary is being instrumentalized to suppress the opposition,

- Efforts to lift parliamentary immunities are concerning.

"PROGRESS IS NOT POSSIBLE UNDER THE ERDOĞAN ADMINISTRATION"

Prebilic delivered very strong messages regarding the future of Turkey-EU relations. He argued that no progress can be made in relations with the European Union as long as the current political administration in Turkey continues, and that no progress should be expected on issues such as the update of the Customs Union or visa liberalization without changes in the fields of democracy and the rule of law. Prebilic stated that the majority in the European Parliament shares this view and expects the Turkey report to be adopted with over 60% support. The June 17 vote is seen as a critical turning point, both for the future of Turkey-EU relations and for the call for sanctions against Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, which has been raised for the first time.