The International Press Institute (IPI) expresses profound concern regarding the recently introduced “agents of influence” bill, commonly referred to as the “foreign agent” bill, in Turkey. The bill, which was introduced by the AKP parliamentary group as part of an omnibus bill, poses a significant threat to civil society, media freedoms, and the fundamental right to free expression in Turkey.
The draft legislation purports to protect the state’s security and political interests, imposing a range of penalties targeting alleged forms of foreign influence on Turkey. However, its vague definitions and broad powers could effectively criminalize legitimate activities, including journalism, advocacy, and public discourse. Additionally, the bill introduces further penalties for existing offenses such as disinformation and libel, which are already disproportionately applied against government critics.
The draft bill has already been approved by the Turkish Parliament’s Justice Commission and is set to be presented to the Grand National Assembly, Turkey’s parliament, next week.
Our key concerns include:
- Arbitrary enforcement: The vague criteria for what constitutes a crime against the state risks arbitrary enforcement, exposing civil society actors to increased legal vulnerabilities and discouraging their essential work.
- Threat to journalistic integrity: The potential for additional prison sentences—ranging from three to seven years—for activities aligned with “foreign interests” creates a chilling effect on investigative journalism and advocacy, fundamentally undermining press freedom.
- Over-criminalization: When combined with the 2022 disinformation law, commonly known as the censorship law, this new bill may lead to an alarming increase in prosecutions of journalists and activists, criminalizing dissent and stifling voices that challenge governmental narratives.
- Impact on civil society: The bill disproportionately targets organizations engaged in human rights work, investigative reporting, and public interest advocacy, jeopardizing their ability to operate freely and effectively.
The Turkish draft legislation follows a trend of foreign agent laws adopted by governments and used to stifle journalism and free expression, notably exemplified by Russia’s long-standing law and the recently enacted one in Georgia.
We call on the Turkish government to immediately withdraw the proposed “agents of influence” bill. Turkey must ensure that its legislation meets international standards for protection of freedom of expression, press freedom, and civil society, as well as the protections for these rights enshrined in its own constitution, thereby safeguarding the foundations of democracy and human rights.
