Security bill must be in strict adherence to universal rights and freedoms: EU

Measures to be taken to increase the security of citizens must be in full compliance with universal fundamental rights and freedoms, as well as European standards, a senior EU official has said, calling on the Turkish government to set up an independent and genuine law enforcement monitoring mechanism.

"Increasing the security of citizens is a legitimate aim, but this must be accomplished in strict adherence to universal fundamental rights and freedoms and European standards," Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman to the European Commission's commissioner responsible for enlargement, Johannes Hahn, told the Hürriyet Daily News in a written reply to questions on the much-discussed government-drafted security bill.

The 132-article "Home Security Package" is expected to be brought to parliament next week after two postponements, amid strong criticism from the all three opposition parties that argue the draft law is another step to turning Turkey into a "police state." Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu defended the security bill in his parliamentary group meeting on Feb. 10, again stressing that the package is not in violation of EU standards.

"I challenge once again from here: Show us just one article that violates EU standards. Show just one clause that is against universal democratic standards. They can't. Because we have studied each and every clause in detail. We have shown sensitivity in order not to deviate from universal standards," Davuto?lu said.

Johannes Hahn's spokeswoman, Kocijancic, did not directly specify on whether the security bill was in line with EU standards, but chose to cite progress reports issued by the EU in recent years. 

"The Commission's progress reports on Turkey have in recent years pointed to the need...