Turkey's parliament ratifies anti-terror law instead of state of emergency

The Turkish parliament ratified an anti-terror law yesterday regarding Turkey's fight against terrorism after the end of state of emergency in the country.

The law was backed by lawmakers of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). It received 284 Yes votes, 95 No votes and one lawmaker abstained during the voting process in the 600-seat strong parliament.

The anti-terror law empowers governors and security forces with certain powers that they exercised under the state of emergency for three more years.

The law also authorizes the government to dismiss personnel of Turkish Armed Forces, police and gendarmerie departments, and public servants and workers if they are found linked to a terror organization, Anadolu Agency reported.

The law will be forwarded to the country's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his formal approval and later it will be published in the official gazette.