Turkey’s Top Judges Spark Debate: Why Focus on 'Heaven and Hell' Over Rulings?

YUSUF INAN / WISE NEWS PRESS / ANKARA, TÜRKİYE — NOVEMBER 15, 2025

Recent high-profile statements by Ömer Kerkez, President of the Court of Cassation, and Kadir Özkaya, President of the Constitutional Court (AYM), referencing concepts such as “kul hakkı” (moral accountability / debt of injustice to others) and “heaven and hell,” have ignited broad public debate over the crisis of confidence in Turkey’s judicial system.

Concerns about access to justice, lengthy legal processes, and trust in the rule of law have intensified as the heads of the country’s highest courts increasingly use theological language in their public remarks.

Official Statements and Public Reaction

In a recent public address, Court of Cassation President Kerkez emphasized mandatory compliance with Constitutional Court rulings:

“When our Constitutional Court issues a violation decision, all institutions, all judicial bodies, all of us must comply and enforce it. Redressing the consequences of a violation is a fundamental right of our citizens.”

Kerkez’s remarks were widely applauded across the country. Shortly afterward, AYM President Özkaya deepened the discussion when he described the judicial profession as existing between spiritual salvation and eternal punishment:

“One side is paradise and one side is hell. May God Almighty not call us to His presence burdened with anyone’s debt of injustice.”

Özkaya’s reference to “kul hakkı”—a religious and ethical concept that signifies being accountable before God for violating the rights of others—became a trending topic on social media, but also fueled criticism from those who interpreted the comments as a sign of judicial insecurity regarding past rulings.

Growing Public Scrutiny of the Justice System

Legal experts and political analysts argue that the tone of the statements suggests deeper concerns within the judiciary about the integrity and consequences of their own decisions. Major issues driving public anger include:

• Excessive length of judicial processes

• Severe overcrowding in prisons

• Allegations that individual applications to the Constitutional Court are being rejected without full review

• Widespread distrust in access to fair trials and equal treatment before the law

Millions of pending cases before Regional Courts of Appeals, the Court of Cassation, the AYM, and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) continue to undermine public trust and economic stability, making structural judicial reform a pressing national priority.

A Global Contrast in Leadership Priorities

The debate in Turkey unfolds while world leaders discuss starkly different themes. U.S. President Donald Trump recently stated he wants to “go to heaven,” while Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have engaged in discussions about longevity and peace.

Observers note that while global powers wrestle with war, forced migration, and humanitarian crises—from Ukraine to Gaza, Syria, Iraq, and Iran—Turkey’s judicial leaders are preoccupied with divine judgment rather than urgent systemic reform.

Critics argue that the real debt of injustice owed to the Turkish people is the failure to provide swift, fair, and transparent judicial processes—leaving families separated for years, futures destroyed, and prisons overflowing.

Call for Action

“Leaders whose destiny has entrusted them with responsibility, and the heads of the legal system, must reflect on these matters and rescue the people from the swamp of problems,” said civil society representatives calling for immediate reform.

The public now waits for concrete solutions rather than moral symbolism from the judiciary’s highest authorities.

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