ISTANBUL: The outgoing head of Turkey’s top court launched a final broadside against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday, warning that the judiciary was being turned into an “instrument of revenge” by politicians.

Constitutional Court chairman Hasim Kilic, who announced he was retiring a month early, said the government’s “extraordinary interest” in the court’s affairs was undermining judicial independence.

“Everybody knows the political views of judges and prosecutors, even in the remotest villages of the country. We cannot move forward with such a judiciary,” Kilic said.

“The judiciary is not an instrument of revenge, it is not anyone’s tool to achieve their aims,” he told a news conference in Ankara.

The constitutional court is seen as the last bastion of checks and balances in Turkey.

Under Turkish law Kilic is not allowed to run again for the court’s chairman job because he has served the maximum term, which is two four-year mandates. He was to retire next month.

The court has elected Zuhtu Arslan — who is said to be supported by Erdogan — as its new leader. He was to take power on March 13.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2015

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