Türkiye Preparing 'Foreign Agents' Legislation – Bloomberg
Turkish lawmakers are preparing to vote on legislation that would make it a crime to act as a “foreign agent.” The opposition has condemned the measure, arguing that it is overly broad and repressive. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Ankara is preparing to present a "foreign influence" law that could lead to imprisonment of violators for as long as seven years, according to a Bloomberg report that references a draft of the proposal.
The United States has had a foreign agents law in place since the 1930s, while Russia enacted its version in 2012. In recent years, former Soviet republics Kyrgyzstan and Georgia have implemented similar laws, which have been criticized as "Russian" by Western-funded NGOs and opposition parties.
Inan Akgun Alp, an MP from the opposition Republican People’s Party, described the bill as “a very serious authoritarian law” and criticized its vague definitions, suggesting it could lead to a “much more repressive environment.”
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc has stated that the law is designed to target espionage and will not be used against journalists or “anyone doing research in Türkiye.”
As reported by Bloomberg and the Committee to Protect Journalists, the legislation would make it a crime to engage in activities “against the security or internal or external political interests of the state, in line with the strategic interests or instructions of a foreign state or organization,” with potential sentences ranging from three to seven years.
Concerns have been raised by journalists and advocates about the law's ambiguous wording, which they fear could empower President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his AK Party to criminalize criticism of government policies. Mustafa Kuleli, vice president of the European Federation of Journalists, warned that “the vaguely worded bill could turn everyday journalistic and civil advocacy activities into punishable crimes,” labeling it as “an alarming threat to freedom of expression and civil society.”
The Turkish government initially proposed the foreign agents law in May but withdrew it in response to strong opposition from NGOs and political entities.
Ozgur Ogret, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ representative for Türkiye, described the bill as “a judicial tool for demonizing and censoring independent journalists and researchers who work with foreign partners or receive foreign funding.” Ogret urged lawmakers to reject the bill “in order to not tarnish the country’s already problematic press freedom record.”
Additionally, a law against "disinformation" that was enacted two years ago penalizes the dissemination of false information pertaining to the country's security, public order, or general welfare with sentences of up to three years in prison. The opposition claims this "censorship bill" provides authorities with the power to imprison anyone who challenges the official narrative.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
The United States has had a foreign agents law in place since the 1930s, while Russia enacted its version in 2012. In recent years, former Soviet republics Kyrgyzstan and Georgia have implemented similar laws, which have been criticized as "Russian" by Western-funded NGOs and opposition parties.
Inan Akgun Alp, an MP from the opposition Republican People’s Party, described the bill as “a very serious authoritarian law” and criticized its vague definitions, suggesting it could lead to a “much more repressive environment.”
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc has stated that the law is designed to target espionage and will not be used against journalists or “anyone doing research in Türkiye.”
As reported by Bloomberg and the Committee to Protect Journalists, the legislation would make it a crime to engage in activities “against the security or internal or external political interests of the state, in line with the strategic interests or instructions of a foreign state or organization,” with potential sentences ranging from three to seven years.
Concerns have been raised by journalists and advocates about the law's ambiguous wording, which they fear could empower President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his AK Party to criminalize criticism of government policies. Mustafa Kuleli, vice president of the European Federation of Journalists, warned that “the vaguely worded bill could turn everyday journalistic and civil advocacy activities into punishable crimes,” labeling it as “an alarming threat to freedom of expression and civil society.”
The Turkish government initially proposed the foreign agents law in May but withdrew it in response to strong opposition from NGOs and political entities.
Ozgur Ogret, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ representative for Türkiye, described the bill as “a judicial tool for demonizing and censoring independent journalists and researchers who work with foreign partners or receive foreign funding.” Ogret urged lawmakers to reject the bill “in order to not tarnish the country’s already problematic press freedom record.”
Additionally, a law against "disinformation" that was enacted two years ago penalizes the dissemination of false information pertaining to the country's security, public order, or general welfare with sentences of up to three years in prison. The opposition claims this "censorship bill" provides authorities with the power to imprison anyone who challenges the official narrative.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
