Written by Veysel Ok
In a move poised to reshape Turkey's civic landscape, the parliament’s justice committee has approved a draft law that intensifies penalties for those suspected of "espionage" or operating as "foreign agents." Known popularly as the "agents of influence" bill, it is expected to advance to the Parliament's General Assembly for approval next week. If enacted, this bill will add fresh fuel to Turkey’s ongoing crackdown on the press and civil society.
Emerging on the legislative radar in March, the proposal was recently tucked within an array of unrelated legal amendments. This legislation grants the government wide authority to penalize anyone it accuses of acting "against the security or domestic and foreign political interests of the state," alleging these actions serve a foreign power.
The government claims the law is essential for safeguarding national security, asserting it will help prosecute espionage cases. But in Turkey, where freedom of expression already bears significant constraints, this law appears to add yet another layer of suppression to silence dissent.
A vague label with far-reaching consequences
The bill’s language is intentionally broad, allowing the state to accuse individuals or organizations of serving “foreign interests”—a term left deliberately open to interpretation. Consider a journalist referencing an international human rights report in a critical piece on the government; could they now be branded a “foreign agent”? Or a human rights organization receiving international funding—would this alone render them suspect? For Turkey’s vibrant but already embattled civil society, the stakes are alarmingly high.
Journalists in the crosshairs
Turkey’s press, no stranger to government crackdowns, stands to bear the brunt of this legislation. The bill appears designed to target journalists with ties to international media, further marginalizing their role as watchdogs. In 2019, even before such a law existed, a government-aligned think tank, SETA, published a controversial report targeting journalists working for foreign outlets. The implication was clear: journalists reporting through an international lens could be seen as suspect.
Should this law pass, it will grant the government new powers to impose sanctions and directly threaten the safety of journalists. A "foreign agent" label would not only carry criminal consequences but also endanger journalists on both digital and physical fronts. In Turkey’s current climate of nationalist fervor and pervasive social media smear campaigns, this designation could unleash a new wave of online harassment, ostracizing them from public discourse.
Threats to NGOs, activists, and rights defenders
Independent civil society organizations, often reliant on international support, are at particular risk. This includes human rights groups, environmental activists, women’s organizations, and LGBTQ+ advocates—those working at the frontlines of democratic reform and rights protections. Under the foreign agent law, these groups risk being surveilled, prosecuted, or even disbanded, accused of serving “foreign interests” if they dare criticize the state.
This tactic follows a broader trend: the intentional erosion of Turkey’s civil society space. If passed, this law will corner human rights defenders, further isolating those striving to uphold fundamental freedoms.
A global strategy of suppression
Turkey’s draft law mirrors Russia’s own 2012 “foreign agent” legislation, which heralded the near-extinction of independent media and civil society in Russia. In authoritarian regimes, “foreign agent” labels serve as efficient tools to intimidate critics and stifle dissent, placing Turkey squarely on a concerning path away from democratic norms.
Voices of resistance
What then remains for Turkey’s rights defenders, civil society organizations, journalists, and advocates for democracy? The response must be vocal, insisting that this bill, which fundamentally undercuts constitutional protections and international commitments, will not silence legitimate dissent. International bodies, too, must remind Turkey of its obligations to uphold human rights norms.
Despite the anticipated pressures, Turkey’s journalists and rights organizations will persist in their essential work. At this critical juncture, unwavering solidarity from both civil society within Turkey and global allies will prove essential in resisting this climate of fear the new law seeks to instill.
