Advocates Protest Homeland Security Reforms

By the appeal of Ankara Bar Association, thousands of advocates assembled outside the courthouse in Ankara and marched towards Turkey’s Parliament to protest the homeland security act draft. 

The protest was supported by various advocates from other cities and members of Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and Libertarian Lawyers Association (ÖHD). 

The march began at noon local time. Deputies Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Mahmut Tanal (Republican People’s Party) as well as Hasip Kaplan (Peoples’ Democratic Party) also showed solidarity. 

“The current reforms are the pathways towards fascism,” Metin Feyzioğlu, Bar Association Union Chairman, said in a statement. He added that he spoke on behalf of 87,000 advocates and 79 bar associations. 

“It is aiming to turn governors into state of emergency administrators,” he said.  

What are the reforms?

Some of the highlights that Ankara Bar Association cited on the new reforms are as follows: 

* With extended halt and ID duties, police will be allowed to search suspect's bodies and vehicles

* Extension of police weapon usage. Highlighting of legitimate defense in the case of molotov cocktails or other flammable agents 

* Police will allowed to to escort witness and victims for their statement without court or prosecutor consent

* Police will be allowed to use gas or chemicals

* Law enforcement is now responsible towards local administrators. Detention permission to police under the order of local administrator or police chief

* In the case of “probably suspicion” that will endanger them or others, police will be allowed to detain demonstrators

* Gatherings and demonstrations will be banned as a rule. Bringing logos and flaglets into demonstrations will be considered as crime 

* Governors will be allowed to give orders to police and follow-up on investigations 

** Click here to read the article in Turkish.