As Turkey’s main opposition’s “march for justice” entered its third day yesterday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated his patience was running out and that judicial steps could be taken against participants.
“If you are seeking justice, the authority and place to seek justice in Turkey is the parliament,” Erdogan told a meeting of businessmen in Istanbul.
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu called the march after former journalist turned CHP lawmaker Enis Berberoglu was sentenced to 25 years in jail on Wednesday for leaking classified information to a newspaper.
Kilicdaroglu is now on the third day of a trek that is expected to take almost a month and represents by far his biggest challenge to the Turkish strongman since he took over the CHP in 2010.
But Erdogan said his actions were damaging for the country and appeared to warn Kilicdaroglu he could even face legal troubles.
“Calling people out onto the street is neither good for them or for the country,” Erdogan told a business conference in Istanbul. “Wandering around with a ‘justice’ placard in your hand is not going to bring justice. If you are looking for justice, then the place in Turkey to find justice is the parliament.”
Kilicdaroglu, 68, has made the word “justice” the slogan of his march, clutching a stick with the word emblazoned on a card.
His plan is for the 450km (280 miles) trek to culminate at Maltepe prison in Istanbul where Berberoglu is being held.
In April, Erdogan declared victory in a referendum on expanding presidential powers and weakening the role of parliament.
The opposition cried foul about the campaign and vote counting.
Berberoglu leaked the information on the weapons on weapons shipments to Syria to Cumhuriyet newspaper.
The papers itself is facing immense pressure, including the jailing of 11 staff members, while the former editor-in-chief, Can Dundar, is in self-imposed exile in Europe.
“If the judiciary invites you too somewhere tomorrow, do not be surprised,” Erdogan said, after insisting the legal branch of government was independent.
The CHP plans to march from Ankara to Istanbul – a trek of more than 400km – during the next three weeks.
Thousands of people have taken part in the event.
A smaller opposition party, the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), has about a dozen of its members of parliament in jail too.
Turkey is in a state of emergency since an abortive coup attempt last year, granting the government sweeping powers.
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