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Turkish Parliament Expands Police Powers and Cracks Down on Demonstrations Turkish Parliament Expands Police Powers and Cracks Down on Demonstrations
(about 4 hours later)
ISTANBUL — Turkey’s Parliament passed one of its most contested pieces of legislation on Friday, a bill that broadens police powers and increases penalties for people participating in unauthorized demonstrations. ISTANBUL — Turkey’s Parliament passed one of its most contested pieces of legislation on Friday, a bill that broadens police powers and increases penalties for people participating in unauthorized demonstrations.
Approval came after a monthlong debate in which cups and glasses were flung across the assembly floor and lawmakers on opposing sides brawled with their fists over the bill. Supported by the ruling Justice and Development Party, which holds the majority of seats, the bill is expected to be signed into law by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Approval came after a monthlong debate in which cups and glasses were flung across the assembly floor and lawmakers on opposing sides brawled with their fists over the bill. Supported by the ruling Justice and Development Party, which holds the majority of seats, the bill is expected to be signed into law by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Under the bill, the police will be permitted to use firearms against demonstrators who are armed with firebombs or other “injurious or similar weapons.” They will also be able to detain people for up to 48 hours to uphold public order. Protesters wearing masks or partly covering their faces will face up to five years in prison if they are deemed to be spreading “propaganda for a terrorist organization.”Under the bill, the police will be permitted to use firearms against demonstrators who are armed with firebombs or other “injurious or similar weapons.” They will also be able to detain people for up to 48 hours to uphold public order. Protesters wearing masks or partly covering their faces will face up to five years in prison if they are deemed to be spreading “propaganda for a terrorist organization.”
The bill will also allow the police to pursue some investigations without authorization from prosecutors and judges, raising fears of the arbitrary use of power without judicial oversight.The bill will also allow the police to pursue some investigations without authorization from prosecutors and judges, raising fears of the arbitrary use of power without judicial oversight.
Opponents say that the bill breaches the separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judicial branches and that it could create the basis for turning Turkey into a police state. The government has described the bill as a reform that increases the security of its citizens while keeping within the European Union’s standards for freedoms and security regulations.Opponents say that the bill breaches the separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judicial branches and that it could create the basis for turning Turkey into a police state. The government has described the bill as a reform that increases the security of its citizens while keeping within the European Union’s standards for freedoms and security regulations.
The bill was proposed by the ruling party after thousands of Kurds took to the streets last October to protest Turkey’s lack of support for Kurdish fighters battling militants of the Islamic State, the extremist group, in the besieged Syrian town of Kobani. At least 40 people died in the demonstrations.The bill was proposed by the ruling party after thousands of Kurds took to the streets last October to protest Turkey’s lack of support for Kurdish fighters battling militants of the Islamic State, the extremist group, in the besieged Syrian town of Kobani. At least 40 people died in the demonstrations.
International human rights organizations have criticized the bill for its vague terminology that could lead to preventive detentions to crack down on dissent.International human rights organizations have criticized the bill for its vague terminology that could lead to preventive detentions to crack down on dissent.
“The government’s legitimate concern about violent protest should not be a blank check for police powers,” said Emma Sinclair-Webb, a Turkey researcher at Human Rights Watch.“The government’s legitimate concern about violent protest should not be a blank check for police powers,” said Emma Sinclair-Webb, a Turkey researcher at Human Rights Watch.
Others said Turkey’s history of abusive policing operations made the bill even more unsettling.Others said Turkey’s history of abusive policing operations made the bill even more unsettling.
“There is a clear record of impunity where police go beyond their legitimate powers without being punished for it,” said Howard Eissenstat, a Turkey expert at St. Lawrence University in New York. “To extend their powers is crazy.”“There is a clear record of impunity where police go beyond their legitimate powers without being punished for it,” said Howard Eissenstat, a Turkey expert at St. Lawrence University in New York. “To extend their powers is crazy.”
The main problem, Mr. Eissenstat said, is that these powers would be increased without judicial oversight.The main problem, Mr. Eissenstat said, is that these powers would be increased without judicial oversight.
Opponents view the bill as part of a broader pattern of actions by Mr. Erdogan to secure public order and suppress views he does not like. His signing of the bill would strengthen police powers ahead of June’s parliamentary elections.Opponents view the bill as part of a broader pattern of actions by Mr. Erdogan to secure public order and suppress views he does not like. His signing of the bill would strengthen police powers ahead of June’s parliamentary elections.