Draft legislation being considered by Turkey’s Parliament would result in stringent background and security checks for people entering the Public Service, their spouses and other relatives.
The proposal, approved by the Parliament’s Internal Affairs Commission, states the checks would extent to the applicants’ spouses and first-degree relatives, as well as their parents-in-law.
It will apply to all appointed officials, including Provincial Governors.
The legislation states that the checks would cover intelligence information on individuals, their relationship with foreign State bodies and foreign nationals, whether they or their families had any relationships with terrorist organisations or criminal gangs.
Reports would be based on existing information, as well as a “repeat investigations via suitable methods”.
Opposition parties say several articles in the proposal are in violation of the constitution, and the principle of individual criminal responsibility.
Republican People’s Party Deputy, Ali Öztunç said people would have to be careful who they allowed their children to marry.
“If this law was in place today, it would bar Agriculture Minister, Bekir Pakdemirli (pictured) from office because his brother is under arrest over alleged ties to Fethullah Gülen,” Mr Öztunç said.
Mr Gülen is an Islamic cleric accused by Ankara of masterminding the failed coup attempt of 15 July, 2016.
Mr Öztunç said his party also objected to the inclusion of Public Servants’ parents in the checks.
“Children cannot be judged for crimes their fathers commit. If the Bill passes as it currently is, the Constitutional Court will revoke it,” he said.
Ankara, 29 June 2020
