Expanding Freedoms İmpossible When Diversity Regarded As Danger"

Head of the Constitutional Court Haşim Kılıç has warned that regarding differences and diversity as a potential danger against the state will make expanding freedoms in Turkey impossible.

Additionally, Kılıç underlined the role that the court has played in protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens using the basis of universal standards, particularly citing the court's landmark decisions on lengthy detentions, fair trial, freedom of expression and the right to property.

"There is no doubt that the opportunity of expanding freedoms will disappear as long as we define differences and diversity as a potential danger posed against the state," Kılıç said on Feb. 2, delivering a speech at an oath-taking ceremony for newly elected member of the Constitutional Court Kadir Özkaya.

The ceremony was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, as well as by Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek, chiefs of other supreme courts, deputy prime ministers and several members of the cabinet.

"The fate of a democratic state governed by the rule of law depends upon an effective protection through the elimination of obstacles before rights and freedoms. Universal standards that have been formed about rights and freedoms have now become a part of world heritage and have been put to all of humanity's disposal without being discriminated against on the basis of religion, sect and race" Kılıç said. - Istanbul