State of Emergency Committee received 80,000 complaints in 2 months

The State of Emergency Procedures Investigation Committee has received over 80,000 complaints from citizens who believe they were wrongfully suspended or dismissed from their duties with statutory decrees since the July 15, 2016 coup attempt.

According to reports in the Turkish media, the State of Emergency Procedures Investigation Committee has gathered more than 80,000 applications since July 17. Seven members of the committee have already knuckled down to work. Around 200 experts are also on the team.

Headed by Justice Ministry Undersecretary Judge Selahaddin Menteş, the State of Emergency Procedures Investigation Committee will investigate every applicant's affiliations with terrorist groups or relevant suspects. After the application deadline, namely Sept. 14, has passed, the commission will start investigating the complaints and the applicants' affiliation with terrorist groups or people, which will be regarded as criteria for further investigation during the probe.

Menteş said fair and correct decisions are of more significance than fast decisions. "We aim to make decisions on time by carrying out inspections one by one. The files will be evaluated according to the order of statutory decrees and their completion status."

The State of Emergency Procedures Investigation Committee head also said all experts and committee members will work around the clock to pave the way for people to use legal ways faster.

On Jan. 23, the State of Emergency Procedures Investigation Commission was established to evaluate and make decisions regarding complaints related to operations made under the state of emergency decree laws with the intention of unblocking administrative objection means. The commission started to receive complaints in July and has seven members, three of whom were appointed by the prime minister, one by the Justice Ministry, one by the Interior Ministry and two by the Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK).

The commission can demand any information and documents from public institutions and judicial authorities except for documents subject to confidentiality as part of an ongoing investigation or otherwise classified state secrets. Public institutions and judicial authorities are obliged to immediately provide the requested information to the commission and facilitate any inquiries.