The Turkish government is to submit a reform to parliament allowing defendants to speak in languages other than Turkish in court.
The ruling has significant implications on Kurdish militants, who have been on hunger strike for 56 days so far, with one of their key demands being the right to speak in Kurdish at trial.
Almost 700 Kurdish inmates have been refusing solid food protesting for greater Kurdish minority rights.
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said,
"A person will be able to defend themselves in court in the language in which they can best express themselves,"
"The prime minister has given the order to our justice minister to develop this and send it rapidly to parliament to become law,"
However, Arinc also called on the hunger strikers not to "upset" the Turkish government, saying:
"Don't upset us and our nation,"
"Please end these strikes in the knowledge that there is a democratic atmosphere in Turkey where your demands can be discussed."
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