Abdulhamit

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) training ships "Kashima" and "Shimakaze" have docked at Istanbul's historic Sarayburnu Port from Aug. 9 to 12, marking a century of enduring friendship and strategic partnership.

The constitution and laws set the procedure concerning the closure of a political party, and it is for the Constitutional Court to decide whether to close a party, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül said on March 8.

The rulings of the Constitutional Court are binding, and its decisions should be implemented, Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül said on Jan. 22, elaborating the top court's recent verdict on former main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) lawmaker Enis Berberoğlu.

Six Turkish ministers gathered on Dec. 30 to discuss the country's reform agenda, the host minister said.

The Turkish government is planning to discuss some "essential changes" in the country's electoral law with all political parties, Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül said on June 15.

Speaking in an interview with state-run Anadolu Agency, Gül said that the government is approaching all issues by thinking how the matter will affect democracy, the rule of law and the nation's common will.

Turkey's parliament ratified a penal reform bill early on April 14 aimed at reducing the sentences of thousands of prisoners, paving the way for their release in a bid to ease overcrowding and protect them from the coronavirus.

The bill was supported by 279 lawmakers in the 600-seat chamber while 51 voted against it.

Turkey saw a decline in the number of rights violations cases taken to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in 2019, as the number of times the Strasbourg-based court ruled that Turkey violated rights dropped to record low levels, according to the country's justice minister.

The Turkish operator of private jets that ex-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn used to escape Japan said on Jan. 8 it met with the Japanese ambassador to Turkey and offered to collaborate with the authorities in that country over the incident.