Parliament Passes Law on Police Powers

Parliament has passed the "Proposal to Change the Law on Police Duties and Authorities", which is widely considered to represent a threat to human rights.

Human rights activists have criticised the law for allowing police officers to stop and search people at any time in any place, to take finger prints and photos of everyone and store them, and to use disproportional force.

Presidential ratification

Now the law needs to be ratified by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who has the right to send it back to parliament.

Parliament has adjourned until after the elections on 22 July. (TK/AG/EÜ)