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Turkey's Parliament Ratifies Controversial Anti-Terror Bill

Those in support of the bill say it's necessary to deal with national security threats, but critics argue the measures are oppressive.

Turkey's Parliament Ratifies Controversial Anti-Terror Bill
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Turkey's parliament ratified a controversial anti-terror bill almost a week after letting the country's two-year-long state of emergency lapse. Parliament passed the bill Wednesday. 

Turkey declared a state of emergency in July 2016 after an attempted coup. That state of emergency was extended seven times. And some of those emergency powers are retained in the newly passed bill. 

The legislation gives authorities the power to dismiss government employees if they are thought to be linked to terrorist groups. It also allows authorities to control who enters or leaves a place for 15 days if there are security concerns, and it restricts when and where people can hold protests. 

Those in support of the bill say it's necessary to deal with national security threats, but critics argue the measures are as oppressive as the state of emergency was. 

The law will be valid for three years.