Turkey postpones debate on controversial ‘foreign agent’ law amid public outcry
The move follows criticism from the opposition and civil society over potential threats to free speech and media independence.
ANKARA — Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) backpedaled on the controversial "foreign agent" bill amid widespread outcry from civic groups and opposition voices.
The measure was removed from an omnibus bill for further consultations with opposition parties, Abdullah Guler, an AKP lawmaker, told Turkey’s state-run Anadolu News Agency.
The bill, over which full-floor debate was due to start Wednesday before its postponement, criminalized actions that hurt the country’s national or political interests “in line with the strategic interests or instructions of a foreign government or organization,” introducing jail sentences of up to seven years for those who commit the crime.
Turkish authorities defended the bill, saying existing laws fail to fully address and sentence those who are involved in espionage activities by foreign governments in Turkey.
