Greek Bar Presidents' Association to bring the structural problems in the justice system in our country to the EU
The closure of our Fenerbahçeliler Association, which is a simple fan association, despite the fact that it has not violated the statute, is the closest and clearest example of this situation." The Coordination Committee of the General Assembly of the Presidents of the Association of Presidents of the Bar Associations of Greece sent a petition to the European Parliament and the European Bar Association about the rule of law and the failures in the functioning of justice in Greece.
The Coordination Committee of the General Assembly of the Hellenic Association of Heads of the Bar Association held an extraordinary meeting on 25 June 2024, following a statement by the Supreme Court of Cassation and the Prosecutor General's Office of the Supreme Court of Appeals, in which it was stated that lawyers are discredited and that there is a direct attack on lawyers by transferring the problems of justice in Greece to the legal profession.
The Coordination Committee criticised the Supreme Court's refraining from expressing an opinion on the delays in the administration of justice, the restriction of rights in contravention of the Constitution, the ECHR and the case law of the ECtHR, as well as the problems related to the rule of law.The Coordination Committee stated that the defence of the rule of law is one of the main priorities for the Bar Association and that the rule of law is directly linked to the essence of democracy and the European perspective of the country. The Committee stated that it has decided to submit a report to the European Bar Association on the administration of justice and the rule of law, as well as an appeal to the European Parliament.
Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) President Halit Habip Oğlu said: "The statement made by the Greek Bar Association points out that the problems in the administration of justice in our country stem not from the lawyers but from the justice system itself. The fact that the Court of Cassation and the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation refrain from expressing an opinion on the problems related to justice in the country and attribute the existing problems to the lawyers brings to mind the question of how independent justice is in the country. We have witnessed the politicisation of the justice system and the direct influence of politics on the justice system many times during the 16 years we have been waiting for the implementation of the ECtHR judgments in the Bekir Usta and others case group. The closure of our Fenerbahçeliler Association, which is a simple fan association, despite the fact that it has not acted in violation of the statute, is the closest and clearest example of this situation. The decision of the Union of Bar Associations to bring the problems in justice in our country to the EU level is important, because ultimately the rule of law is the essence of democracy and the protection of the rule of law is very important for the future of our country."
