Turkish human rights groups face being shut down as Erdogan passes law stifling NGOs

Move gives interior minister power to replace members of organisations being investigated for terrorism charges

President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, arrives to give a press conference after the cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey, on September 21, 2020. (AFP via Getty Images)

Turkey's parliament passed a law on Sunday that would ramp up oversight of foundations and associations and, according to rights groups including Amnesty International, risks limiting the freedoms of civil society organisations.

The law allows the interior minister to replace members of organisations who are being investigated for terrorism charges, while the interior ministry can also apply to courts to halt the groups' activities under the new law. 

International organisations will also be included under the law and penalised accordingly.

Parliament approved the bill – drafted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party, which holds a parliamentary majority with its nationalist MHP allies – early on Sunday, the assembly said on Twitter.

Earlier this week, seven civil society organisations, including Human Rights Association (HRA) and Amnesty, said in a statement that terrorism charges in Turkey were arbitrary, adding the law violates the presumption of innocence and punishes those whose trials are not finalised.

"Given that thousands of civil society activists, journalists, politicians, members of professional organisations are investigated within the scope of (anti-terrorism law), there is no doubt that this law will target almost all opponent associations," said the organisations.

The bill “severely restricts the aid collection activities” of NGOs, the groups said, adding: “Associations and foundations working in the field of women’s rights, refugee rights, children’s rights, and LGBTI+ rights, and notably human rights associations … will all face the risk of being closed down pursuant to a single signature.”

Critics say Mr Erdogan's government has used the coup attempt as a pretext to quash dissent. The government says the measures are necessary given the security threats facing Turkey.

Under the law, foundations will be inspected annually by civil servants. Local governors or the interior minister can block online donation campaigns under a measure to prevent terrorism financing and money laundering.

Fines of up to 200,000 lira (£19,777) can be levied, compared to a previous maximum of 700 lira, in a move the seven organisations said will "in practise lead to the closure of many associations".