Law Is the Most Important Condition of Democracy

The first results of the joint work between Bahçeşehir and Harvard universities are emerging. Enver Yücel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bahçeşehir University, spoke at Harvard: "Law is the most important argument for a society of consensus and a better democracy. The level we have reached is not yet sufficient."

LIKE A JOINT CAMPUS

The first results of the joint work launched between Harvard University and Bahçeşehir University have begun to emerge. The final declaration of the study, which examines the relationship between public prosecutors and police as regulated by the code of criminal procedure and covers the cities of Istanbul, New York, Boston and Los Angeles, was announced at a ceremony held at Harvard University. In addition to Turkish and US politicians, the ceremony was attended by Harvard University administrators, Harvard Law School faculty members, officials from Türkiye's consulate in the US, Bahçeşehir University President Prof. Dr. Şenay Yalçın, Prof. Dr. Feridun Yenisey and Dean of the Faculty of Law Prof. Dr. Ayşe Nuhoğlu.

THANKS TO PROF. DR. YENİSEY

The opening speech at the meeting was delivered by Dr. Christopher Stone, Professor of Criminal Justice at Harvard University. Stating that this work in the field of law is of great importance, Stone thanked Prof. Dr. Feridun Yenisey of the Bahçeşehir University Faculty of Law, one of the world's most important criminal law scholars. Stone said, "As Harvard, we will further develop our work with Bahçeşehir." In his speech, Bahçeşehir University Chairman of the Board of Trustees Enver Yücel addressed the issues of law and social peace. Telling the participants about Türkiye's transformation and the work on a new constitution, Yücel said:

"As a country and a society, we believe that the point reached in terms of the rule of law, democracy and better democracy is not sufficient. We want to take it further. We want the legal system of the most advanced democratic countries to be the same in our country. To this end, our parliament, law, justice and judiciary have begun working together. The biggest task ahead of us is to prepare a new constitution. For this, parliament, civil society and universities are carrying out joint work, and we will continue to do so. Today, here, as Bahçeşehir and Harvard universities, we are conducting comparative research on certain legal practices. Together we are working on 'what a more advanced democracy can look like and how better work can be done'..

We are doing our utmost for our country to have a good constitution. As a country, as a nation and as a state, we are ready to take on our share of responsibility in this regard. Our university is working to contribute to the work on a new constitution for an advanced democracy together with the state, the nation, civil society organizations and universities. It is rapidly continuing its work towards a constitution built on common ground that includes the views and ideas of all segments of society."

JOINT WORK IN MANY FIELDS

Bahçeşehir and Harvard universities carry out joint work in many fields. There is also joint research, student exchange and visiting scholar work between the law faculties of the two universities. Research on "the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure regulating the relationship between the Public Prosecutor and the Police" and "how the rights granted to crime victims are implemented" are just some of the joint studies. Within the scope of this work, Prof. Dr. Feridun Yenisey gave lectures on Turkish Criminal Procedure Law at Harvard University. Likewise, Prof. Phil Heyman of Harvard taught classes at Bahçeşehir University.