Reuters/Ankara
Turkey’s parliament passed a reform of its anti-terrorism laws late on Thursday, narrowing the definition of terrorist propaganda in line with EU demands that it boost freedom of expression.
The changes coincide with progress in efforts by the government and Kurdish militants to negotiate an end to a 28-year insurgency, but the justice minister rejected the idea that the new laws would facilitate the release of prisoners linked to the rebels.
Turkey has used the legislation widely to prosecute thousands of politicians, activists and journalists, frequently for things they have said or written.
It regularly tops the list of countries violating the European Convention of Human Rights and the European Commission had called on Ankara to amend its laws to distinguish between incitement to violence and expression of non-violent ideas.
“The adoption by parliament of the long-awaited legislation on anti-terror, which will align the Turkish law with European standards, is overall a very positive development,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule said in a statement.
“I expect it will address a number of issues on fundamental rights that were a source of concern over the past years in Turkey,” he said, although he noted some omissions.
According to the new law only direct incitement to violence will constitute a crime, and justice ministry officials said it was in line with European Court of Human Rights criteria.
Turkey is holding thousands of defendants accused of links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) – deemed a terrorist group by both the EU and US.
Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin said those defendants were being tried for membership of a terrorist organisation, rather than spreading propaganda.
