Fatih Altaylı's take on 'influence agency': 'That law doesn't bind Taha Hüseyin Karagöz, it binds me'

Journalist Fatih Altaylı, on his YouTube channel, shared his assessments regarding allegations that provisions such as 'influence agency' and 'propaganda against Turkey' would be added to the elements considered crimes under the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

When asked whether it would be a matter of expanding the scope of crimes such as 'inciting the public to hatred and hostility' and adding 'influence agency' to it, Altaylı responded as follows:

THE METİN CİHAN EXAMPLE

"The 'softening' is all lies and deception. First of all, if 'influence agency' were something concrete, in any country, you cannot do anything to destabilize that country to protect itself. But what scares me is that in a judiciary that is already not independent, if you start inventing certain crimes that are vague, suspicious, not easily defined, and based entirely on perception management, and start accusing people, it won't yield good results.

How can you accuse someone who has written a truthful news story of influence agency? Is it true? Yes, it is. Metin Cihan, who broke the story that trade is being conducted with Israel... If you take this journalist and throw him in jail the very day he posts the news, claiming he is an influence agent trying to destabilize Turkey, even though the news is true, what will happen? Who will follow up on that news? Who will pursue the truth? How will these things come to light? 

"THEY PERCEIVE THINGS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT AS BEING AGAINST THE STATE..."

I am truly very afraid of such things, especially on behalf of free media and independent media. But if you perceive things that are against the government as being against the state, and try to obscure the truth by including things that are against the government under the umbrella of influence agency, that is something entirely different. 

Because the judiciary is not independent enough and it is a process that causes people suffering, I am afraid of this. 

CRITICISM OF CHP REGARDING THE 'CURRICULUM'

We don't know the CHP's opinion on the curriculum; they aren't saying a single word about it. They aren't having a sound report prepared and shared with the public, but we know about their visit with Cübbeli Ahmet. 

What is the main opposition? Moreover, what does an opposition with a higher vote share than the government do? Well, it does these things. Discussing this law shouldn't be my job. It should be the job of the politicians leading the opposition. The opposition shouldn't be distracting us with absurd agendas. Because the deficiency in that curriculum will not only affect my children, but yours as well. It will also affect the children of those in power. Or it will darken the future of the children of those who support the government. Go ahead and explain these things, my friend.

A MESSAGE TO ÖZGÜR ÖZEL

That law doesn't bind Taha Hüseyin Karagöz, it binds me. That law can be used against me. The pursuit of freedom shouldn't just remain in a person's name."

News Source: 12punto