ANKARA (A.A) - 08.08.2002 - The EU Adjustment Bill approved by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is abolishing death penalty except for crimes committed in war and imminent war situations.
With the bill, death penalty has been changed into life imprisonment. However, the bill keeps death penalty for crimes committed in war and imminent war situations.
Under the bill, charges cannot be brought based on articles, tv or radio broadcast criticizing the Turkish Republic, government, the Turkish Parliament, ministries, security forces and judiciary.
The bill adds a definition of human smuggling and its punishment to the Turkish Penal Code. According to this, people who are involved in human smuggling will get two to five years prison term or a fine not less than one billion TL. Vehicles and financial assets which are used in the smuggling will be confiscated.
The bill also brings heavy punishment against organ smuggling.
The bill changes the Foundations Law so that foundations of non-Muslim communities can purchase immobile properties in order to meet their social or religious needs. The bill also allows Turkish foundations to become members of or cooperate with foreign foundations organizations with the permission of the Council of Ministers. Foreign foundations and organizations can also carry out activities in Turkey with the permission of the Council of Ministers.
The bill also changed the rules for foreign associations that want to carry out activities in Turkey and Turkish associations that want to have activities abroad.
Associations can be set up and they can open branches abroad if they get a permission from the Foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry and the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers could end the relations between a Turkish association and a foreign one if it is proved that associations are carrying out activities that damage Turkey's national interests.
Foreigners in Turkey could attend meetings, carry banners or read out public statements, according to the change made in Meeting and Demonstrations Law. However, they have to inform the local authorities 48 hours before hand.
About the decisions announced by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), if the consequences of the crime is too serious to be made by the state's paying compansation, people will be able to apply to the Supreme Court within one year and they will be given a second trial. This decision will not be valid for cases of the past.
Under the bill, it will be possible to do radio and tv broadcast in languages and different dialects traditionally used by Turkish citizens. The broadcast cannot be against the basic principles of the Turkish Constitution or unity of the country and the state.
With a change made in the Preess Law, prison sentences were replaced by heavy fines varying between ten to 100 billion TL.
Under the bill, it will be possible to open private courses to teach traditionally spoken languages and dialects in Turkey. The National Education Ministry will prepare regulations to inspect these courses.
Regulations about the authority and responsibility of the police were also changed.
People under the age of 18 won't be allowed to enter or work at places that sell alcohol. Police have to have a judge's instruction in order to search residences. In urgent situations, the highest local authority can provide this instruction.