‘Security investigation’ passes the Parliament

* Photo: Özge Elif Kızıl / AA

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Rejected by the votes of the opposition parties before and submitted to the General Assembly of the Parliament again despite the provisions of the bylaw, the "Law on Security Investigation and Archive Research" passed the General Assembly of the Parliament yesterday (April 7).

With the enactment of this law, those who will work in the public sector for the first time will undergo a security investigation.

Accordingly, the related security investigation and archive research will be undertaken by the Directorate of the National Intelligence Organization, Directorate General of Security and local authorities.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), those who will undergo "the security investigation and archive research" are as follows:

* In institutions and organizations, the classified units containing information and documents which will undermine or jeopardize the security of the state, national existence and integrity and domestic and foreign interests when unauthorized people are informed about them;

* Public personnel of the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff, gendarmerie, security, coast guard and intelligence agencies;

* Personnel to work in penal institutions and detention centers;

* High-ranking public executives;

* The persons who shall be subject to security investigation and archive research as per special laws;

* The persons employed in units, projects, facilities and services with strategic importance in terms of national security, regardless of the status or form of employment of the related persons;

* Teachers to work in public institutions and organizations.

What happened?

After the failed coup attempt in Turkey on July 15, 2016, the government amended the Article 48 of the Law no. 657 and introduced an obligation to undergo a security investigation and archive research before starting to work in the public sector. However, the Constitutional Court found the security investigation unlawful and repealed the related legislation.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) added the security investigation to an omnibus bill which passed the Parliament in 2018. A year later, the Constitutional Court once again repealed the legislation stipulating a security investigation for being a civil servant.

The AKP drafted another bill following these two top court decisions last year. Approved by the Parliamentary Commission of Interior, the bill was rejected by the votes of the opposition last week.

However, the bill was submitted to the General Assembly again, this time, as a Presidential resolution. The opposition objected to this decision, saying that the legislative proposal was rejected and another proposal about the same subject could not be submitted within a year. (EKN/SD)