Skip to main content

Fears over morality police as Erdogan's army granted increased powers

FEARS have been raised over the establishment of a “morality police” in Turkey with the much-criticised neighbourhood watchmen, branded President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s personal army, being handed increased powers.

A Bill passed earlier this month inflamed Turkish MPs, with a fierce and bitter parliamentary debate descending into a brawl.

Mr Erdogan’s ruling Justice & Development Party (AKP) insists that the watchmen, known as bekci in Turkish, are an essential auxiliary force for the Turkish police.

But the new laws allow the 21,000 strong force to question citizens, demand identification, shut down demonstrations and, most controversially, carry firearms.

The new powers come at a time of heightened tensions in Turkey as state operations escalate against the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

Police have played a major role in the oppression, attacking press statements and breaking up protests.

It is feared that adding to the powers of the watchmen, who receive just 60 days’ training, will lead to rights violations and further erode the country’s already limited freedoms.

The HDP has slammed the government for prioritising security instead of dealing with Turkey’s deepening economic crisis. The currency is plummeting in value, a situation worsened by the global Covid-19 pandemic.

HDP MP for Ankara Filiz Kerestecioglu said: “People have lost their jobs and their salaries ... what good are the watchmen to them?

“An undereducated mass that will perhaps act as a morality police is being unleashed on society.”

In a sinister move, the watchmen have been given the power to watch single women in their apartments to see who is coming and going and check whether they live alone.

Speaking anonymously to the Star today, one woman said: “They are allowed to intervene if they think prostitution is involved.

“So when someone like me, who lives alone and is single, invites a male friend around regularly, my house can be watched and even raided by these watchmen.”

In an interview on the Arti Gercek TV channel last week, reflecting on the vote, lawyer Cesim Parlak of the Istanbul Bar Association agreed with claims that the force could be used to monitor single women with the neighbourhood watchmen operating at night.

On Saturday the Police Directorate confirmed that it had opened investigations into Mr Parlak and the media organisation, filing criminal charges for making “false, unfounded and defamatory accusations.”

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today