Istanbul, October 29, 2024 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is urging members of the Turkish Parliament to vote against the law on foreign “agents of influence” when it comes to a vote in the Grand National Assembly this week as expected.

“Unfortunately, Turkey appears to be following the regional trend of introducing a judicial tool to demonize and censor independent journalists and researchers who collaborate with foreign partners or receive foreign funding,” said Özgür Öğret, CPJ Turkey representative. “Despite the assurances of government officials, there are numerous examples of serious violations of media freedom in neighboring countries that have enacted similar laws in recent years. Members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly should vote against this law so as not to jeopardize the country’s already problematic press freedom record.”

The Turkish government initially introduced the law in parliament in May, but then put it on hold until last week due to strong criticism from opposition parties and civil society. The proposed law introduces a new crime “against the security or political interests of the State” and imposes a prison sentence of three to seven years for committing a crime “against the security or internal or external political interests of the State in accordance with the strategy “from the interests or instructions of a foreign state or a foreign organization.”

Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç said last week that the law was aimed at combating actual espionage and would not be used broadly to “punish anyone who conducts research in Turkey.”

Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia have recently passed similar “foreign agent” laws that are used to silence critical media outlets.