Implementing EU reforms?
Istanbul - Raziye Yesil (30), housewife: I have not been searched. I don't know anything about this new law. But it is a positive development if the police are going to treat the people more respectfully.
Istanbul - Ilker Guder, (29), self-employed: They have never searched me without asking in Germany. It is not good to stop and search people at a time when you are aiming for the European Union. Sometimes they are so hard on the people. If a person is guilty, they should investigate and find him/her. They can't find criminals on the streets.
Istanbul - Adem Sasmaz, (42), florist: I think the search ordinance is a very positive development in terms of human rights and Turkey's EU bid.
Istanbul - Yildiz Kaplan (18), student: Everyone on the street could be regarded as dangerous because of the increase in the number of suicide bombers and snatchers on the streets. The ordinance is negative in terms of this, but positive in terms of defending human rights. In my opinion, very few people know about the new ordinance. So no one will ask for identity from the police and will agree on being searched.
Istanbul - Ekrem Dogsan (53), scrap-iron dealer: The EU laws do not benefit the poor. Every new law is implemented for the rich. Therefore, I am not interested in law amendments.
Istanbul - Mehmet Sahin (18), lottery seller: We don't want the police to remove us from streets anymore. What we do is a registered job. Apart from that, I have not heard of the new ordinance.
Istanbul - Murat Okcu, (40), barber: I was without an identity card for one or two years and so the police in this area got to know me. And since they know me, they treat me well. I am happy with all of them. I am not complaining about any.
Istanbul - Mustafa Cubuk (72), works in a hamam: I am following the new laws from the TV. I would like my children to benefit from the new laws even if I don't.
Istanbul - Ahmet Yucedag (59), grocery store owner: The police is already very nice to the people. They can search me whenever they want to.
Istanbul - Munir Tandogan (26), worker: I would be afraid to ask the reason if the police wanted to search me. Even if the laws change, the people are afraid of the police and will not be able to say "no you can't search me.
Istanbul - Fatih Bulut, (17), student: I would like to know why the police is searching me. Why are they seeing me as suspicious and bothering me out of all the people? I believe everyone will defend his/her rights. They don't search us when we show them our student identity card anyway.
Istanbul - Serra Pazar, (24), student: If a police officer wants to search me, first of all he has to prove that he is indeed a police officer. I live in the United Kingdom and there, no one ever asks you to show your identity card. Although the people are afraid of the police, maybe they will start defending their rights if they are informed about this ordinance.
Istanbul - Canan Celebi (40), self-employed: How will the police get hold of criminals without searching. I have nothing to be afraid of so I would show my identity card and let them search me. But first I would want to see the police officer's identity card.
Istanbul - Mehmet Durankaya, (40), self-employed: I want the police to behave like the ones in Europe. I have not heard about the new ordinance but the police officers have to show their identity cards before searching the people.