Last Amendments to the Prevention of Terror Act of Turkey (From Understanding and Responding to Terrorism, P 117-128, 2007, Huseyin Durmaz, Bilal Sevinc, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-224814)

• NCJ Number: 224825
• Author(s): Ali Safak
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: IOS Press
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

This paper examines major amendments enacted in 2006 to Turkey’s Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

Abstract

The PTA contains 25 articles. The main articles regulate human and civil rights according to European standards. The PTA defines common and collective conditions of terror actions, which are compulsion, violence, and force. In addition to these common conditions, the criminal actions must be intentionally committed by an individual or group. The new amending act does not regard an individual who unintentionally helps or supports a terror organization as a direct participant in terrorism and crime. The Amending Act of PTA, Law no. 5532 of June 29, 2006, does not contain or describe a new crime and punishment, but rather modifies several articles of Criminal Act and Criminal Judgment Act. Turkish experiences and lessons learned from dealing with terrorism for 30 years have informed the new amendment act. It also intends to establish compliance between European standards of human rights. This involved increasing punishments for existing terrorism crimes, and it introduced a new investigation and court procedure for terrorist crimes. The basic legal principles of criminal procedure are maintained. The amendment act also provides additional protective measures for criminal justice personnel.