The ministry previously blocked donation accounts of the municipalities for illegally launching a donation campaign.

Defending the government's decision to not impose a full lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic, Kalın has said, "Talking about the economy may seem irrelevant or inhuman to some. But the fact is that life must go on somehow."

"A curfew or full-isolation" is necessary to slow down the spread of coronavirus, according to the mayors of 11 larger cities, including İstanbul and Ankara.

The bill on economic measures against coronavirus outbreak has passed the General Assembly of the Parliament and has become a law. Accordingly, employers have been granted the right to give workers unpaid leave.

Retired military judge Kardaş and Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Secretary General Yılmaz have spoken to bianet about the plans to postpone induction and discharge in mandatory military service for a month over Covid-19 outbreak.

With the law on criminal enforcement that entered into force today, security forces can now interrogate prisoners for up to 15 days “to obtain information about terror crimes.” But, it is not known where, how and within the scope of which rights they will depose...

Having passed the General Assembly of the Parliament, the Law on Criminal Enforcement has been published on the Official Gazette and entered into force.

It is reported that a “terror” investigation has been launched against media outlets that used address and photo while reporting the İstanbul Municipality’s demolition of illegal construction carried out by Presidential Communications Director Altun.

Figen Çalıkuşu, the attorney of arrested journalist-writer Ahmet Altan, has requested his urgent release. Noting that her client is 70 years old, Çalıkuşu has underlined that coronavirus poses a life threat to Altan in prison.

Amnesty International has released a statement about the law on criminal enforcement approved by the Parliament: “Those convicted in unfair trials under Turkey's overly broad anti-terrorism laws are also now condemned to face the prospect of infection.”

Jointly drafted by the ruling AKP and MHP groups, the draft law on criminal enforcement has passed the Parliament. In the 600-seat parliament, 279 MPs have supported the bill while 51 MPs have voted against it.

Following his cabinet meeting, President Erdoğan has said that some media outlets “started a war” against their own country with their news and columnists: “Our country will hopefully get rid of not only coronavirus, but also these media and politics viruses.”

The law on intelligence agencies, for which six journalists are behind bars, was excluded from the bill after a motion by AKP MPs was accepted.

Soylu has made his first statement after President Erdoğan turned down his resignation over the panic caused by his short-notice announcement of a curfew.

Employees who are put on an unpaid leave will be paid half the minimum salary, the Minister of Treasury and Finance has announced.

The Presidency released a statement shortly after Soylu's resignation, saying he will continue to serve.

Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu has announced that he has resigned from office. “The responsibility for implementing the decision of curfew for the weekend lies with me in its all aspects,” Soylu has said in his statement on Twitter.

In the wake of the detention of a law apprentice over his “We don’t pay” tweets, “We Don’t Pay” (Ödemiyoruz) Movement has released a statement and noted that people’s expression of their wish to not pay their debts does not constitute a crime.

Taken into custody over his tweets such as “Capitalism is more dangerous than corona. We don’t pay,” law apprentice Yağız Timoçin will be held in custody until Saturday evening. Having a chronic asthma, Timoçin is in Covid-19 risk group.

The attorneys of arrested businessperson Osman Kavala have submitted a petition to the İstanbul Penal Judgeship of Peace and requested that a verdict of release be given for Kavala following a review of his arrest.