Turkey is set to approve a law concerning "foreign agents," according to Bloomberg.
The Turkish authorities plan to introduce a new law against foreign influence on issues that could harm national interests. Society and media groups fear that such a law will be used to suppress dissent.
This is reported by RBK-Ukraine citing Bloomberg.
The legislation, which will be discussed in the Turkish parliament in the coming days, aims to curb those who act against "the security of the state or its internal or external political interests" under the influence or instruction of a foreign country or organization.
According to the draft law, the punishment could be up to seven years in prison.
This move is part of a broader judicial package proposed by the Justice and Development Party of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The bill resembles the recently adopted foreign agents law in Georgia, which faced condemnation from Western countries and led to mass protests.
Legal experts and journalists have expressed concern over the vagueness and broad wording of the law. They argue that Turkey's political interests may change, and the authorities could use this ambiguity to suppress any criticism of the government.
Inan Akgun Alp, a deputy from the main opposition Republican People's Party, stated that the draft law would pave the way for "a much more repressive environment."
"This is a very serious authoritarian law. Defining a crime through vague wording opens the door to punishing all opponents," Alp said.
Media Response
Dozens of media groups have issued statements opposing the foreign influence law and calling for its repeal.
"We view this draft law as a disturbing threat to freedom of expression and civil society. The poorly formulated bill could turn everyday journalistic and civic activities into punishable offenses," said Mustafa Kuleli, Vice President of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ).
In the 2023 report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Turkey ranked 10th in the world for the conditions of imprisoned journalists. Although it has repeatedly held the top position over the last decade.
Increased Pressure
In recent years, Erdoğan and his government have restricted freedom of speech in Turkey through various laws. Since he took office ten years ago, thousands of people have been detained or faced trial on charges of insulting the president.
According to a "disinformation" law adopted two years ago, spreading false information about security, public order, or the general welfare of Turkey can lead to imprisonment for up to three years.
Critics, particularly the main opposition party, have labeled it a "censorship bill," claiming that its broad wording empowers the authorities to prosecute anyone who deviates from the official narrative.
Foreign Agents Laws
Currently, foreign agents laws are in effect in two countries of the post-Soviet space.
The pioneer of this initiative is the Russian Federation, where a similar law was adopted back in 2012. According to it, anyone receiving "support" from outside Russia or being under "influence" from outside Russia must register and declare themselves as a "foreign agent."
After registration, these individuals are subjected to additional scrutiny and must label all their publications with a disclaimer of 24 words stating that they are disseminated by a "foreign agent."
On May 14, 2024, a similar bill "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" was approved by the Georgian parliament. The decision provoked mass protests in Tbilisi.
The UK and the US have stated that if the Georgian authorities do not repeal this law, it will slow the country's movement towards the EU and NATO.