DEM Party reacts to 'influence agency' bill: Everyone could be a terrorist one day
The 9th Judicial Package, known in the public eye as the 'influence agency' bill, continues to draw criticism. During a press conference held at the Parliament, DEM Party Erzurum MP Meral Danış Beştaş stated regarding the judicial package, 'In Turkey, everyone could be a terrorist one day. Now, with the influence agency provision, probably two-thirds of those who are not terrorists will be labeled as agents.'
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Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Erzurum MP Meral Danış Beştaş evaluated the "9th Judicial Package."
"THOSE WHO ARE NOT TERRORISTS WILL BE LABELED AS AGENTS"
Touching upon the "influence agency" issue, Beştaş stated, "In Turkey, everyone could be a terrorist one day. Now, with the influence agency provision, probably two-thirds of those who are not terrorists will be labeled as agents. I say this in quotation marks; the country will be overflowing with agents and terrorists," she said.
Emphasizing that every judicial package "pours concrete over freedoms, human rights, and the rule of law," Beştaş said, "It is not well-intentioned to bring the influence agency issue to the agenda while the injustices created by the 8th Judicial Package are still being debated."
Stating that the regulation would prevent women from using their own surnames alone, Beştaş recalled the Constitutional Court's ruling that a woman can continue to use her maiden name after marriage.
Explaining that the justification claims children might be affected by their parents having different surnames, Beştaş said, "Are children not affected by their parents being arrested? Are children not affected if their fathers commit violence against their mothers? We could extend this list; this is just an excuse. The important issue for them is to destroy women's gains," she said.
"A NEW TYPE OF CRIME IS BEING CREATED"
Stating that a new type of crime is being created by adding a provision to Article 339 of the Turkish Penal Code under the heading "other activities," Beştaş commented, "Methods to silence the public are being tested; this is a new method of silencing. A new center for penalties is being established."