Turkey's parliament passed a law on Dec. 27 that would ramp up oversight of foundations and associations and, according to rights groups including Amnesty International, risks limiting the freedoms of civil society organizations.
The proposal is criticized harshly on the grounds that it "aims to silence the civil society" due to its articles on associations.
If Erdogan approves, "NGOs will be open to arbitrary intervention"
In the opposition commentary criticizing the regulations regarding the collection of aid from the internet with the amendment made in the Aid Collection Law, the view that "Many non-governmental organizations may be open to intervention on the pretext of financing terrorism" was stated.
It can be seized without delay the assets in Turkey
Law of the United Nations by the Security Council or their organizations mentioned in decisions directly or indirectly controlled by or in the presence of reasonable grounds for what they found in their name or account in prohibited transactions and activities of moving persons or entities, to be frozen without delay the assets in Turkey.
Gülden Sönmez, one of the lawyers of the Mavi Marmara case, criticized the enactment of the proposal.
Sönmez, from her social media account, "Get well soon NGOs, lawyers, get well soon my dear country. But still let it not stay inside us, let's shout our slogan despite the draft".
The Proposal for Preventing the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction was accepted in the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and became law. The Law on United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by the organizations mentioned in the decision, or they are directly or indirectly controlled by or in the presence of reasonable grounds for what they found in their name or account in prohibited transactions and activities of the moving person or organization, without delay assets in Turkey will be frozen. It will be prohibited to import, export, transit and transfer technology of substances, materials and equipment specified in UNSC resolutions, or to contribute or support nuclear activities or the development of nuclear weapon launch systems.
WILL BE PENALUTED WITH ADMINISTRATIVE FINES
An Audit and Cooperation Commission will be established in relation to the implementation of the law. In order to prevent unauthorized aid collection in the internet environment and the abuse of the feeling of solidarity in the society, a decision to block access to the content related to the said activities can be taken upon the request of the governor's office or the Ministry of Interior. Those who collect aid without permission will be fined from 5 thousand Turkish Liras to 100 thousand Turkish Liras. If unauthorized aid is collected on the internet, administrative fines from 10 thousand Turkish Liras to 200 thousand Turkish Liras will be imposed. If those who provide a place and opportunity for unauthorized aid collection do not terminate this activity despite being warned, they will be punished with an administrative fine of 5 thousand Turkish Liras. The Ministry of Commerce may require the share book, the board of directors minute book and the general assembly meeting and discussion book to be kept electronically. According to the amendment made in the Code of Criminal Procedure, the value of the assets that are kept or seized in terms of the investigations or prosecutions will be determined.
THE PENALTY WILL BE INCREASED UP TO ONE-THREE
* Courts terrorist organization is that precisely is decided after the matters that performs acts within the scope of the crime of financing terrorism referring to the existence of reasonable grounds people can decide the organization or organizations to freeze the assets located in Turkey. In the event that financing of terrorism is committed by the founder or director of the organization or a member of the organization, the punishment to be imposed on these individuals for the crimes of establishing, leading or being a member of the organization will be increased by up to one third. The definition of "property" in the Law on the Prevention of the Financing of Terrorism is brought into line with internationally accepted definitions. made a criminal complaint with the Financial Crimes request for an investigation in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Law of the concerned if the decision to freeze the assets located in the Research Council of Turkey will be decided by the Presidency. Decisions made as a result of the investigation and prosecution will be sent to the Financial Crimes Investigation Board to be submitted to the Evaluation Commission.