Main opposition party slams new security bill

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has lodged a statement of opposition to the 15 articles of the new homeland security bill, saying that the penalty given for brandishing a sling is higher than the penalty of gun possession.

The CHP put its objection to the 15 articles of the bill into a statement on the grounds that they conflict with the constitution. Possessing a gun in a demonstration will have a penalty of one year in prison, with a possibility for this penalty to be turned into a fine. However, a person possessing a sling in a demonstration will be penalized with a more than two-year prison term, according to the bill.

The CHP also objected to one of the articles in the bill which said "a peaceful demonstrator, who has half of their face covered - even as protection from the cold weather - will be charged with prison terms ranging from 30 months to four years."

A total of 3,200 police chiefs will be forced to retire if the security bill is enforced, the CHP also underlined. The CHP slammed the bill for "increasing the ministry's and governor's authority and transferring the judicial organs' authority to them while also being a crackdown on freedom." The main opposition also criticized the bill for giving security forces the authority to arrest people on the grounds that "they are risking other people's lives," and said this article will allow police forces to arrest even innocent people during demonstrations. 

'Protection of people'

"The term 'protection of people' is not included in our laws and this makes the period of this 'protection' vague in the bill," said the CHP.

"With this article, the police will be able to prevent people from entering any area under their protection. For...