05/11/2024 | Writer: Kaos GL
"If the proposed law comes into force, everyone's right to freedom of expression, including the right to request and obtain information, will be at risk of being violated."
81 civil society organizations issued a joint statement on the proposed law on influence agency, which was accepted by the Justice Commission of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM). In their statement, civil society organizations, including LGBTI+ associations, pointed out that if the proposal is accepted, civil society will not be able to operate freely in the country.
The statement included the following statements:
“We are concerned that the proposed law does not provide sufficient safeguards or effective remedies against possible abuses, and fails to provide clear and unambiguous criteria for what specific acts constitute a criminal offense.”
"Arbitrary interpretation of overly broad, vague laws has been used to target and prosecute human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and many other civil society organizations in Türkiye. If enacted, the proposed law would put everyone's right to freedom of expression, including the right to request and receive information, at risk of being violated. It would also have a chilling effect on the important human rights work of civil society organizations and potentially hinder their activities."
What happened?
The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) Justice Commission has completed its deliberations on the 23-article Law Proposal on Amendments to the Notary Public Law and Certain Laws, including the “influence agency” regulation. After two days of negotiations, the bill, consisting of 23 articles in total, was approved by the commission. The bill will be discussed at the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye in the coming days. Known in the public as the 'influence agent' law, the bill, if passed, will amend the penal code and criminalize undefined “acts” that are “carried out in line with the strategic interests or instructions of a foreign state or organization against the security or domestic or foreign political interests of the state”. The bill envisages severe penalties, including long-term imprisonment, for those found to have committed these violations. The penalty could also be up to 12 years in prison if committed in “wartime” or in the context of “war preparations or military actions of the state”.
Tags: human rights
