ISTANBUL – Turkey s ruling party on Monday submitted to parliament a new”anti-terror” bill that would bolster the powers of the authorities indetaining suspects and imposing public order even after the currenttwo-year state of emergency ends.
The state of emergency, imposed in the wake of the July 2016 failed coupaimed at unseating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been extended seventimes and seen tens of thousands arrested.
With the government indicating that no new extension will be sought afterErdogan won a new mandate in June 24 presidential elections, the emergencyis due to end overnight Wednesday to Thursday.
But state-run Anadolu news agency said that the ruling Justice andDevelopment Party (AKP) had submitted amendments to existing laws toparliament to deal with the “fight against terror after the state ofemergency”.
Turkey considers itself to be simultaneously fighting several groups deemedby Ankara to be terror outfits, including Islamic State (IS) militants, theKurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the group of US-based preacher FethullahGulen blamed for the 2016 putsch bid.
Under the proposed new legislation, authorities will be able to prohibitindividuals exiting and entering a defined area for 15 days on securitygrounds, Anadolu said.
It says a suspect can be held without charge for 48 hours or up to fourdays in the case of multiple offences.
But this period can be extended up to twice if there is difficulty incollecting evidence or if the case is deemed to be particularly voluminous.
The head of the AKP s parliamentary group Bulent Turan said that the28-article bill had been sent to opposition parties and expressed hope thatit would be put to a vote next week.
The AKP fell short of a majority in the 600-seat parliament in the pollsbut is able to push through legislation with the support of its hard rightallies, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
“The state of emergency is going to end in the next days. But the end ofthe state of emergency does not mean our fight against terror is going tocome to an end,” said Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul. – APP/AFP