HDP Co-Chairperson Selahattin Demirtaş. (Photo: Today’s Zaman, Ali Ünal)
Co-chairperson of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş has criticized a recent law rewarding people who inform on terrorists in a sum of up to TL 4 million, warning citizens not to spy on their neighbors in exchange for money.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Demirtaş underlined the fact that Turkey has one of the largest militaries of the NATO member countries, in addition to police, gendarmerie and intelligence units.
“How can a country that has been claiming to be so big and powerful become desperate in spite of its all [security] forces and look to spying?” Demirtaş said. “My advice to all citizens is to not ever spy on your neighbors for money… Our people should turn down this call.”
According to a law that was published in the Official Gazette on Monday, people who inform on terrorists, help to have them detained, or reveal their identity anonymously will be rewarded with up to TL 200,000, an award that can be increased up to a total of TL 4 million with the approval of the Interior Ministry.
The Interior Ministry will reward citizens who inform on terrorists as long as they are not involved in the crime of terrorism that they report and are not public officers or village guards. People who report terrorists can file an application for the reward with the concerned provincial police department.
The amount of the award will be determined according to the information, the crime that is exposed or the terrorist who is reported. The upper limit for the reward is TL 200,000; however, this amount can be multiplied twenty-fold, reaching to as much as TL 4 million.