Freedom House lambasts security bill

Turkey is moving further and further from democracy and the rule of law, according to Freedom House. The Washington-based human rights watchdog issued a statement this week condemning the passage in the Turkish Grand National Assembly of the first 10 articles of controversial security passage.
 
“The passage allows police to search and detain people for up to 48 hours without prior approval,  reduces the threshold for use of firearms by police against protesters to a dangerous level, and gives provincial governors additional authority over police investigations, the statement said.
 
The bill itself is the subject of great controversy in Turkey. There was actual fighting on the floor of the Turkish parliament  on two occasions last week between government and those opposition MPs opposed to its passage.
 
The Freedom House statement goes on:
 
“The new legislation undermines the accountability and oversight of police and prosecutors as well as citizens' trust in these principles, which are at the core of democracy and rule of law,” said Susan Corke, director of Eurasia programs. “The legislation will eviscerate critical checks on search and detention, while exacerbating the problem of politically-appointed governors overseeing police operations. Widening the scope of when police may use firearms against protesters is dangerous and out of step with UN guidelines on the use of force by law enforcement. It is no exaggeration to say that the future of Turkish democracy hangs in the balance with this law.”   
 
Freedom House has throughout the year given Turkey ever lower marks in his assessment of the country’s liberties. Turkey is rated Partly Free in Freedom in the World 2015, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2014, and Partly Free in Freedom on the Net 2014.

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