Turkish journalist bodies are rallying against a new bill that they claim delivers a new nail to the coffin of press freedoms under the guise of fighting fake news. 

The draft bill, which passed the parliament’s digital media commission with minor changes last week, allows for jail sentences of up to three years for those who “disseminate information that misleads the public” about public health, public order, or internal and external security of the country. “If the offense is committed by someone concealing their real identity or as part of the activities of an organization, the sentence would be increased by half,” the draft bill says. It also affords new powers to the administration to sanction the online media with various financial tools. 

Opposition politicians and press watchdogs interpreted the law as a move to tighten the grip on journalists and choke criticism on the internet and social media as Turkey approaches elections due next spring. Several Turkish pundits claim that the recent judicial cases against the opposition indicate that the elections may take place as early as November. However, the government persistently denies that it will call for snap polls. 

“It is clear that you have prepared this bill to silence the opposition as we enter the electoral period,” Ayhan Altintas, a deputy from the opposition IYI Party, told the deputies of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its smaller political ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). “Your party leaders said that this bill was on the pipeline before the law even came on the parliament's agenda, so there is no use asking you to change it.” Instead, Altintas said the new law — which critics call “Censorship Law” — should be postponed to Jan. 1, 2024, after the elections.