Turkish Parliament Approves Much Criticized Internal Security Law

Turkish Parliament passed a controversial internal security law which will pave way for increased police power amid debates on Friday.

The bill, Law on Duties and Powers of the Police, was approved with 199 votes for and 32 against after a 16 and a half hour parliamentary session.

The 132-article security package passed into law with 69 articles, as the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) decided not to discuss 63 articles so as not to delay the approval of the bill any further.

With the newly-passed law, police officers have authority to to fire their weapons at protesters who throw Molotov cocktails against them. Governors and district governors will be able to instruct and command police and gendarmerie forces to investigate criminal activity, whereas currently only public prosecutors have this power, one of the criticized articles in the law.





SHOT LIST
Friday, March 27, 2015 SOURCE: CIHAN
Parliament building
Deputies
Voting
Duration: 01: 15