Turkey adopts new anti-terror law – SPIEGEL ONLINE

The Turkish Parliament has adopted a security law that provides for far-reaching measures. The majority of MPs present voted in favor of the controversial bill of the conservative Islamist AKP party. The AKP and its alliance partner, the ultranationalist MHP, have an absolute majority in parliament. In 27 paragraphs, the law regulates how the state will continue the fight against terrorism even in the normal state.

The state of emergency expired a week ago. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan imposed it after the coup attempt in 2016. Under emergency conditions, the fundamental rights were restricted, tens of thousands were imprisoned, about 130,000 civil servants were dismissed.

A live coup on Facebook – A revolt in Turkey

For example, the new law state of emergency. Among other things, they have the power to deny access to certain places and areas for a period of up to 15 days to those suspected of "disrupting public order or security." In addition, they should continue to restrict freedom of badembly.

In principle, as in the state of emergency, there should be no outdoor demonstrations after dark. With the new vaguely worded argument that "they must not make everyday life difficult for citizens in an extreme and unbearable way", the state has another opportunity to prevent encounters.

Moreover, security forces are now allowed to keep suspects in custody between 48 hours and 12 days – more than before the state of emergency.

Video Journal of Istanbul – My Life Under Erdogan

Termination – The legal text regulates in detail the manner in which judges, security forces or ministry personnel may be dismissed. As in the state of emergency, the government intends to invalidate the pbadports of those who are fired or suspended for alleged terrorism. This should continue to apply to their spouses. In addition, the state can not only collect information about the suspects, but also their spouses and their children.

The law also testifies to the government's deep mistrust of the army following its attempted coup in the summer of 2016. With a series of regulations, it allows control of soldiers on and off bases.

There were 380 of the 600 members of the National Assembly in Ankara on Wednesday. Of them, according to the state press agency Anadolu 284 voted for the law. Opposition politicians, anti-government media and human rights organizations had warned that the government wanted the state of emergency to be called permanent. The law will initially apply for three years.