Parliament approves law allowing defense in mother tongue

The Turkish Parliament has passed a bill which legalizes delivering a defense statement in one's mother tongue in court and which makes it possible for married inmates to meet their spouses in private. During the controversial sessions upon the bill, lawmakers from the ruling party and opposition parties had brief scuffles which made it necessary to give breaks between the sessions. The first article of the approved law is amending the right to make defense in one's mother tongue. According to the law, a defendant could make a defense in court in a language s/he feels more comfortable. Interpreters for the defendants will be chosen from the lists prepared by provincial judicial committees by the defendant himself/herself. Moreover, judges and prosecutors shall not be restricted to select the interpreters only from their province, but from the list of other provinces. The Justice Ministry shall issue the bylaw in a month upon entry into force of the regulation. In accordance with the regulation, the defendant shall bring his/her interpreter to the court until the lists of interpreters are prepared. The state will cover the expenses for courtroom translators, but this facility shall not be abused to procrastinate the prosecution process.