“It is obvious that opposing NGOs will suffer from this law. This law will also be a means of pressure on people working in the field of civil society,” says human rights defender Nuray Çevirmen while talking about the new law allowing the Interior Ministry or a judge to appoint a “trustee” to run the NGOs.

EKİM ZEYNEP YAĞMUR

Ankara- We interviewed Nuray Çevirmen, one of the managers of the Human Rights Association (İHD) about the new law “preventing the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction”,  the law is also known as the law allowing the trustees to be appointed to the NGOs.

· The law “preventing the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction” was published in the Official Gazette on December 31, 2020, and it has entered into force in Turkey. About 700 organizations stated that the law is against international human rights conventions and they signed a common text in which they explained why they object to the law. One of these organizations is the Human Rights Association. Why do you object to the new law?

We object to it because this law will be a means of pressure on the activities of associations and foundations, their activities will be prevented and because the ruling party will form a political tutelage on civil society. In addition, this law is a violation of the presumption of innocence which is the legal principle that one is considered innocent until proven guilty and the international conventions that the Turkish state has signed.

·  NGOs point out that the law in question establishes a ground for criminal processes that may prevent NGOs considered “not be approved by the ruling party” from carrying out their activities in social and political life. What kind of obstacles can NGOs face due to this law?

It is obvious that the opposing NGOs will suffer from this law. People working in the field of civil society will also face pressures. The NGOs will not be able to apply for funds to carry out their activities and they will not receive donations. Their low income will not meet their expenses and the NGOs probably will be closed down. This will eliminate people’s spaces to take a breath, their freedom of speech, and their struggle to seek their rights.

·  Investigations have been opened against thousands of NGOs, members of professional organizations, journalists and politicians within the scope of Turkey's Anti-Terrorism Law. Seizure of the management of an association because of one of its member under investigation isn't a threat for organizations?

Surely, it is a threat. When we looking at the current situation in Turkey, we can understand even the concept of crime has been changed. You can be considered guilty and put in prison even when you express your thoughts. There is a fear among people.

NGOs are not acceptable organizations

· Is the aim to silence those who criticize?

The strengthening of civil society is important in this century because the rights have also expanded, the victimization has increased and this changes society. Civil society in a system ignoring democratic practices is not acceptable for organizations for the ruling parties.

“The aim is to create fear”

Even if the state of emergency has been lifted, its practices are still ongoing. For a long time, people are under pressure and this pressure is spreading in every sphere of life. The attacks on universities, the trustees used to replace elected mayors, holding the elected people in prison, arresting the journalists and pressure on the opposition press outlets, detention against the members of political parties, prevention of workers seeking their rights, and many other practices are practices aimed at creating fear among people. They (the government) try to create fear with this law.