Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Faculty of Law, in collaboration with EMU Law Club operating under the Social and Cultural Activities Directorate, organised a symposium entitled “Individual Application to the Constitutional Court: Recent Developments”.The symposium’s opening ceremony took place at Mustafa Afşin Ersoy Hall at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, 23 May 2019. The symposium hosted important names both from the TRNC and the Republic of Turkey.
Delivering an opening speech at the event opening, EMU Faculty of Law Dean Prof. Dr. Metin Gürkanlar welcomed all participants and provided information on ‘Individual Application to the Constitutional Court’. Extending his gratitude to all those who supported the organisation of the event, Prof. Dr. Gürkanlar wished all participants a fruitful event. EMU Vice Rector for International Affairs and Promotion Prof. Dr. Cem Tanova was also present at the event opening.
The symposium’s first session took place under the moderatorship of EMU Faculty of Law academic staff member Prof. Dr. Turgut Turhan. In the first session, Prof. Dr. Sultan Tahmazoğlu Üzeltürk talked about "The Historical Development of Constitutional Complaint”, Prof. Dr. Fazıl Sağlam provided information on ‘The scope of the European Convention on Human Rights Foreseen for Individual Application: What does it mean?’, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tolga Şirin talked about ‘The Normative and Distinctive Problems of the Constitutional Court's Individual Application (Constitutional Complaint) Mechanism’, and Faculty Member Dr. Gülay Arslan Öncü presented information on ’The Rule of Execution of Ordinary Laws on Individual Appeals to the Constitutional Court’.
The second session took place under the moderatorship of the Retired Member of the Constitutional Court of Turkey Prof. Dr. Fazıl Sağlam. During the said session, the following presentations took place; Prof. Dr. Osman Doğru “Right to Life and Prohibition of Torture”, Assist. Prof. Dr. Bezar Eylem Ekinci “To see Gender Inequality in the Interpretation of Fundamental Rights and Freedom”, Assist. Prof. Dr. Nazime Beysan “From the Perspective of Gender Inequality, Married Woman's Last Name and Constitutional Court's Judicial Opinion”, and Prof. Dr. Gülriz Uygur “Domestic Violence in the Constitutional Court's Judicial View”. At the end of the sessions, the participants were presented plaques of appreciation for their contributions and support.
The Symposium Continued on 24 May 2019
The event continued with presentations which took place on Friday, 24 May. The second day of the symposium was attended by TRNC Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Narin Ferdi Şefik and EMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Sonuç Zorlu Oğurlu. During the first session which was chaired by the President of the TRNC Supreme Court Şafak Öneri, the following presentations took place: Prof. Dr. Selin Esen Arnwine’s “Prohibition of Repatriation in Individual Application Rulings”, Dr. Mehmet Artuk Ardıçoğlu’s “Compliance Audit for Fundamental Rights and Freedoms” and Assist. Prof. Dr. Can Azer’s “Individual Application Method Search and Applicability in TRNC”.
The second session chaired by Prof. Dr. Sultan Tahmazoğlu Üzeltürk continued with the following presentations: Prof. Dr. Engin Yıldırım’s “Constitutional Court, Fundamental Rights and Individual Application”, Dr. Erkan Duymaz’s “Right Restrictions for Political Purposes and the Boundaries of Constitutional Court Inspection” and Dr. Ulaş Karan’s “Freedom of Expression in Constitutional Court Decisions: A Balance Sheet Experiment”.
The third session took place under the moderatorship of Prof. Dr. Osman Doğru and hosted the following presentations: Prof. Dr. Korkut Kanadoğlu’s “Binding and Execution of Decisions with Individual Application Results”, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ozan Ergül’s “The Relationship between the Constitutional Court and Other Courts: Re-understanding the Rule of the Constitution” and Assist. Prof. Dr. Hakan Bilgeç’s “Freedom of Commercial Expression in Constitutional Court Rulings Given as a Result of Individual Application”. The symposium ended after a discussion session.