The Turkish government has reintroduced the controversial “agents of influence” bill to parliament after previously withdrawing it due to public backlash. The legislation seeks to add a new offense to the Turkish Penal Code, imposing prison sentences of three to seven years on individuals acting in the interests of foreign entities. While the government asserts that the bill targets espionage, critics argue it poses serious threats to journalistic independence and freedom of expression, recalling issues with previous laws like the “disinformation law.” CSOs caution that vague definitions within the bill could be misused to target NGOs perceived as influenced by foreign interests. In a joint statement, various press organizations condemned the bill as a direct attack on press freedom, warning that it could allow journalists, CSOs, and activists to be unjustly labeled as “foreign agents,” thereby undermining the public’s right to accurate information and restricting freedom of expression. Read more here.
Source: duvaR.english, MLSA