Law school deans lend support to public prosecutor

Deans from 26 law schools yesterday convened in Ankara to express their support for Public Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, who last week filed an indictment seeking the closure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). In a joint declaration released by the deans, they underlined the importance of the judiciary in democracies. Condemning criticisms of Yalcinkaya, the deans stated that the prosecutor had acted in line with his duty and responsibility to protect constitutional principles, adding that the judiciary should not be subject to political pressure. "Protecting the judiciary is protecting the state under the rule of law, and this is everyone's duty," they added.