Protesting in Adıyaman, tobacco producers detained

* Photo: Gerger Fırat Newspaper

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Banned from trading tobacco without getting a "certificate of authorization" and "making a notice", the tobacco producers in the eastern provinces of Adıyaman and Malatya have been protesting for a week now.

In the morning today (July 9), police and gendarmerie officers raided the houses of people on the grounds that they joined the protests. As part of the operations launched in the city center, districts and villages, nearly 50 people have been reportedly taken into custody.

The operations took place before the Omnibus Bill, which also foresees the certificate of authorization, was debated at the Parliament today.

The detained people have been taken to the Adıyaman Provincial Security Directorate and the Provincial Gendarmerie Command.

Several soldiers and armed vehicles have been stationed in different parts of the city in the face of the ongoing protests.

What happened?

The Law no. 5607 on Fight Against Smuggling has been amended and tobacco producers have been banned from producing tobacco without getting a certificate of authorization and making a notice as of July 1.

The amended law has stipulated that all producers and sellers of tobacco must receive a certificate of authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The law also foresees a prison sentence of 3 years to 6 years in the event of tobacco trade without a certificate.

After the law was amended and entered into force, tobacco producers and sellers have started protesting. Trying to make their voices heard for a week now, they want the law to be withdrawn. (HA/SD)