On May 7th, a judge shared a petition for a gender transition lawsuit submitted to his court on his social media accounts and mocked the applicant. Pink Life Association filed a complaint to the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) about the incident.
Source: “This judge’s conduct is against the law!” (“Hakimin Bu Eylemi Suç ve İlkelere Aykırıdır!”), Pembe Hayat, May, 11, 2018, http://www.pembehayat.org/haberler.php?id=1747
On May 10th Emrah Şahin, the lawyer for Pink Life Association, filed a complaint against the judge who published a petition submitted to his court on Instagram and ridiculed the applicant. Şahin states that such conduct of the judge is not only criminal but also goes against the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct, the Law for Judges and Prosecutors as well as the Principles of Ethical Conduct for Public Servants:
“Such social media posts by a judge who should be protecting the principles of equality, impartiality and integrity, not only weakens the faith of our citizens in the impartiality of the justice system but also hurts their dignity and pride. Therefore as Pink Life Association, we filed a complaint to the Council of Judges and Prosecutors about this judge regarding his actions which are not fit with the profession and dignity of of the profession.”
Şahin also suggests that the judge should be investigated and believes that public servants in the judiciary harm LGBTI+ individual’s faith in the Turkish justice system :
“The judiciary system has a crucial importance for the perpetuity of the state, it is required to treat all citizens equally. This requirement is not an ideal or a wish but a rule, warranted by international conventions, our Constitution and regulations alike. These ugly posts shared on a personal social media account of a member of the judiciary is detrimental to the society as well as to other judges and prosecutors who are loyal to their duties.”
“If this judge is sentenced because of our complaint, it will be a step forward in ensuring that such incidents will not be repeated.”