Türkiye’s parliament passes law aimed at strengthening national unity

Türkiye’s parliament has approved a law aimed at strengthening national unity and social integration under the government’s “Türkiye without terrorism” initiative.

The bill, titled the “Law on Strengthening National Unity and Social Integration,” was adopted after about 12 hours of debate during a plenary session of the Grand National Assembly and has now entered into force, Turkish media reports. 

The legislation was approved with 468 votes in favour, 88 against and six abstentions.

The vote was attended by senior representatives and leaders from several political parties, including ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group chairman Abdullah Güler and deputy chairman Efkan Ala, as well as Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli.

Representatives of opposition and other parliamentary parties also took part in the vote, including DEM Party co-chairs Tuncer Bakırhan and Tülay Hatimoğlu, İYİ Party leader Musavat Dervişoğlu, Yeniden Refah Party leader Fatih Erbakan, Saadet Party leader Mahmut Arıkan, DSP leader Önder Aksakal, HÜDA PAR leader Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu and TİP leader Erkan Baş.

By Sabina Mammadli