NATIONAL SECURITY LAW AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN TURKEY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.n1.4095Keywords:
National Security Law, Security Governance, Intelligence Oversight, Digital Surveillance, Emergency Powers, Sustainable DevelopmentAbstract
This article argues that Türkiye’s national security governance is legally fragmented across counter-terrorism, intelligence, digital surveillance and emergency regimes, producing deficits in legal certainty, accountability and rights protection. Using comparative doctrinal analysis of the United States (USA PATRIOT Act), the United Kingdom (Investigatory Powers Act 2016; National Security Act 2023) and the European Union’s fundamental-rights and data-protection standards, it develops a blueprint for a holistic National Security Law (NSL) for Türkiye. The proposed design combines a narrow and justiciable threat definition, a tiered powers architecture (ordinary times/escalating risk/state of emergency), mandatory reporting to Parliament, independent oversight, and strengthened judicial authorisation. It embeds end-to-end safeguards for surveillance and data processing, data minimisation, retention limits, audit trails, delayed notification and effective remedies, while constraining emergency powers through strict time limits, qualified-majority extensions and sunset clauses. Drawing on Foucault’s panopticism and Agamben’s “state of exception”, the article explains how vague security norms can generate chilling effects, weaken legitimacy and depress civic participation. It concludes that a rights-consistent NSL can improve security effectiveness and public trust, and address climate/disaster-related risks without securitising environmental civic space.
References
2559 sayılı Polis Vazife ve Salahiyet Kanunu. (1934). Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü mevzuat yayımları.
2803 sayılı Jandarma Teşkilat, Görev ve Yetkileri Kanunu. (1983). T.C. İçişleri Bakanlığı mevzuat yayımları.
2911 sayılı Toplantı ve Gösteri Yürüyüşleri Kanunu. (1983). Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi.
2935 sayılı Olağanüstü Hal Kanunu. (1983). UYAP Mevzuat.
2937 sayılı Devlet İstihbarat Hizmetleri ve Millî İstihbarat Teşkilatı Kanunu. (1983). UYAP Mevzuat.
3713 sayılı Terörle Mücadele Kanunu. (1991). UYAP Mevzuat.
50 U.S.C. § 1881a (USA). (n.d.).
5237 sayılı Türk Ceza Kanunu. (2004). T.C. Adalet Bakanlığı (Mevzuat yayını).
5271 sayılı Ceza Muhakemesi Kanunu. (2004). T.C. Adalet Bakanlığı (Mevzuat yayını).
5442 sayılı İl İdaresi Kanunu. (1949). UYAP Mevzuat.
5651 sayılı İnternet Ortamında Yapılan Yayınların Düzenlenmesi ve Bu Yayınlar Yoluyla İşlenen Suçlarla Mücadele Edilmesi Hakkında Kanun. (2007). Resmî Gazete metni (konsolide).
5809 sayılı Elektronik Haberleşme Kanunu. (2008). T.C. Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı.
5902 sayılı Afet ve Acil Durum Yönetimi Başkanlığının Teşkilat ve Görevleri Hakkında Kanun. (2009). AFAD mevzuat yayımları.
6532 sayılı Devlet İstihbarat Hizmetleri ve Millî İstihbarat Teşkilatı Kanunu ile Bazı Kanunlarda Değişiklik Yapılmasına Dair Kanun. (2014). Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi.
6698 sayılı Kişisel Verilerin Korunması Kanunu. (2016). T.C. Adalet Bakanlığı.
Agamben, G. (2003). Lo stato di eccezione. Bollati Boringhieri.
Agamben, G. (2005). State of exception (K. Attell, Trans.). University of Chicago Press.
Anayasa Mahkemesi. (2019). Basın duyurusu: Wikipedia’ya erişim engeli hakkında bireysel başvuru kararı.
Anderson, D. (2023). Independent Review of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. Home Office.
Arslanalp, S. (2023). Spatial reason of the state: The role of space in protest bans in Turkey. Space and Polity.
Article 19. (1995). The Johannesburg Principles on National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information.
Balzacq, T. (2005). The three faces of securitization: Political agency, audience and context. European Journal of International Relations, 11(2), 171–201. doi:10.1177/1354066105052960
Big Brother Watch and Others v. the United Kingdom, App. Nos. 58170/13, 62322/14, 24960/15 (European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber, May 25, 2021).
Bigo, D. (2002). Security and immigration: Toward a critique of the governmentality of unease. Alternatives, 27(1_suppl), 63–92. doi:10.1177/03043754020270S105
Bjørnskov, C., & Voigt, S. (2018). The architecture of emergency constitutions. International Journal of Constitutional Law, 16(1), 101–127.
Briggs, C. M. (2012). Climate security, risk assessment and military planning. International Affairs, 88(5).
Buzan, B., Wæver, O., & de Wilde, J. (1998). Security: A new framework for analysis. Lynne Rienner Publishers.
Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (UK). (2004).
Congressional Research Service. (2021). Domestic Terrorism: Overview of Federal Criminal Law and Investigative Authorities (R46829).
Congressional Research Service. (2025). FISA Section 702 and the 2024 Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA) (R48592).
Council of Europe. (1950). Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights) (ETS No. 5).
Council of Europe. (n.d.). Derogation in time of emergency (Article 15 of the European Convention on Human Rights)(Factsheet).
Council of Europe. (n.d.). Guide on Article 15 of the Convention – Derogation in time of emergency.
Council of Europe. (n.d.). National security and European case-law.
Criddle, E. J., & Fox-Decent, E. (2012). Human rights, emergencies, and the rule of law. Human Rights Quarterly, 34(1), 39–87.
Cusato, E. (2022). Of violence and (in)visibility: The securitisation of climate change in international law. London Review of International Law, 10(2), 203–242. doi:10.1093/lril/lrac015
Çınar, Ö. H. (2017). Turkey’s human rights agenda: Toplantı özgürlüğü ve güvenlik ekseninde tartışmalar. Journal of Human Rights.
Digital Rights Ireland Ltd v. Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and Others, Joined Cases C 293/12 and C 594/12 (Court of Justice of the European Union, 2014).
Directive 2002/58/EC (ePrivacy Directive), OJ L 201, 31.7.2002. (2002).
Directive (EU) 2016/680 (Law Enforcement Directive), OJ L 119, 4.5.2016. (2016).
Directive (EU) 2017/541 on combating terrorism, OJ L 88, 31.3.2017. (2017).
Doğu, B. (2022). Environmental mobilizations through online networks: Digital activism and collective action in Turkey. International Journal of Communication.
Dyzenhaus, D. (2006). The constitution of law: Legality in a time of emergency. Cambridge University Press.
European Court of Human Rights. (2010). Gözel and Özer v. Turkey (Judgment). HUDOC.
European Court of Human Rights. (2012). Ahmet Yıldırım v. Turkey (Judgment). HUDOC.
European Court of Human Rights. (2015). Cengiz and Others v. Turkey (Judgment). HUDOC.
European Court of Human Rights. (2017). Işıkırık v. Turkey (Judgment). HUDOC.
European Court of Human Rights. (2022). Factsheet – Derogation in time of emergency (February 2022).
European Court of Human Rights. (2025). Guide on Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights: Right to respect for private and family life, home and correspondence (Updated August 31, 2025).
European Data Protection Supervisor. (2017). Assessing the necessity of measures that limit the fundamental right to the protection of personal data: A toolkit.
European Union. (2012). Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2012 O.J. C 326/391, Art. 52).
Ferejohn, J., & Pasquino, P. (2004). The law of the exception: A typology of emergency powers. International Journal of Constitutional Law, 2(2), 210–239. doi:10.1093/icon/2.2.210
Forst, M. (2025, October 29). New report: UN Special Rapporteur reveals global complaints on environmental defender harassment under the Aarhus Convention. Business & Human Rights Resource Centre.
Foucault, M. (1975). Surveiller et punir: Naissance de la prison. Gallimard.
Foucault, M. (1995). Discipline and punish: The birth of the prison (A. Sheridan, Trans.). Vintage Books. (Original work published 1975)
Gerards, J. (2013). How to improve the necessity test of the European Court of Human Rights. International Journal of Constitutional Law, 11(2), 466–490.
Global Witness. (2025). Roots of resistance: Documenting the killings and disappearances of land and environmental defenders.
Greene, A. (2017). Defining terrorism: One size fits all? International and Comparative Law Quarterly, 66(2), 411–440.
Gross, O., & Aoláin, F. N. (2006). Law in times of crisis: Emergency powers in theory and practice. Cambridge University Press.
Gu, W., Yan, W., & Yu, S. (2024). Rule of law, corruption and transparency impacts on green growth of East Asian economies. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1). doi:10.1057/s41599-024-03659-1
Haggerty, K. D., & Ericson, R. V. (2000). The surveillant assemblage. The British Journal of Sociology, 51(4), 605–622. doi:10.1080/00071310020015280
Hall, J. (2025). State threats legislation in 2024. Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation (Report laid before Parliament).
Hsiang, S. M., Burke, M., & Miguel, E. (2013). Quantifying the influence of climate on human conflict. Science, 341(6151).
International Court of Justice. (2025, July 23). Obligations of States in respect of climate change (Advisory Opinion, General List No. 187).
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2022). Climate Change 2022: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability (WGII AR6). Cambridge University Press.
Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (UK). (2016).
Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office. (2025a). The double lock.
Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office. (2025b). Annual Report 2023 (HC 603).
Investigatory Powers Tribunal. (2024). Report 2021–2023.
Kinikoglu, D. (2023). Implementing a new data protection law in Turkey: Opportunities, gaps, and enforcement. International Data Privacy Law.
Klatt, M. (2012). Proportionality—a benefit to human rights? Remarks on the I•CON controversy. International Journal of Constitutional Law, 10(3), 687–708.
Lawlor, M. (2025). Out of sight: Human rights defenders working in isolated, remote and rural contexts (A/HRC/58/53). United Nations Human Rights Council.
Mahmutovic, A., & Alhamoudi, A. (2023). Understanding the relationship between the rule of law and sustainable development. Access to Justice in Eastern Europe.
McGoldrick, D. (1996). Sustainable development and human rights: An integrated conception. International and Comparative Law Quarterly, 45(4), 796–818.
Michaels, R. (2006). The functional method of comparative law. In M. Reimann & R. Zimmermann (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Comparative Law (pp. 339–382). Oxford University Press.
Millî İstihbarat Teşkilatı. (n.d.). Faaliyetler (2937 sayılı Kanun kapsamında kurumlar arası yükümlülükler).
Murray, D., Fussey, P., Hove, K., Wakabi, W., Kimumwe, P., Saki, O., & Stevens, A. (2024). The chilling effects of surveillance and human rights: Insights from qualitative research in Uganda and Zimbabwe. Journal of Human Rights Practice, 16(1), 397–412. doi:10.1093/jhuman/huad020
National Emergencies Act, 50 U.S.C. §§ 1601–1651 (USA). (1976).
National Security Act 2023 (UK). (2023).
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. (2009). Access blocking in Turkey: The law on “Regulation of Publications on the Internet and Suppression of Crimes Committed by Means of Such Publication” (Law No. 5651). OSCE.
Penney, J. W. (2016). Chilling effects: Online surveillance and Wikipedia use. Berkeley Technology Law Journal, 31(1), 117–182.
Platsas, A. E. (2008). The functional and the dysfunctional in the comparative method of law: Some critical remarks. Electronic Journal of Comparative Law, 12(3).
Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation), OJ L 119, 4.5.2016. (2016).
Roe, P. (2012). Is securitization a ‘negative’ concept? Revisiting the normative debate over normal politics. Security Dialogue, 43(3), 249–266. doi:10.1177/0967010612443723
Roman Zakharov v. Russia, App. No. 47143/06 (European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber, December 4, 2015).
Scheinin, M. (2010). Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism: Ten areas of best practices in countering terrorism (A/HRC/16/51).
Security Council Report. (2022, December 30). The UN Security Council and Climate Change.
Stone Sweet, A., & Mathews, J. (2008). Proportionality balancing and global constitutionalism. Columbia Journal of Transnational Law, 47, 68–149.
Stoycheff, E. (2016). Under surveillance: Examining Facebook’s spiral of silence effects in the wake of NSA internet monitoring. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 93(2), 296–311. doi:10.1177/1077699016630255
Szabó and Vissy v. Hungary, App. No. 37138/14 (European Court of Human Rights, January 12, 2016).
Tele2 Sverige AB and Others, Joined Cases C 203/15 and C 698/15 (Court of Justice of the European Union, 2016).
The Sunday Times v. the United Kingdom (No. 1), App. No. 6538/74 (European Court of Human Rights, April 26, 1979).
Tsakyrakis, S. (2009). Proportionality: An assault on human rights? International Journal of Constitutional Law, 7(3), 468–493.
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi. (n.d.). Güvenlik ve İstihbarat Komisyonu (kuruluş ve görevler).
Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Anayasası. (1982). T.C. Anayasa Mahkemesi mevzuat sayfası (konsolide metin).
UNECE. (1998). Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention).
United Nations. (1966). International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (999 U.N.T.S. 171).
United Nations. (n.d.). Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions.
United Nations Commission on Human Rights. (1984). The Siracusa Principles on the Limitation and Derogation Provisions in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (E/CN.4/1985/4).
United Nations General Assembly. (1998). Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms(A/RES/53/144).
United Nations General Assembly. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development(A/RES/70/1).
United Nations General Assembly. (2022). The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment(A/RES/76/300).
United Nations Human Rights Committee. (2001). General comment No. 29: States of emergency (Article 4)(CCPR/C/21/Rev.1/Add.11).
United Nations Human Rights Committee. (2011). General comment No. 34: Freedoms of opinion and expression (Article 19) (CCPR/C/GC/34).
United Nations Human Rights Council. (2021). The human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment(Resolution 48/13).
Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT Act) Act of 2001, Pub. L. No. 107–56, 115 Stat. 272 (USA). (2001).
U.S. Congress. (2009). 18 U.S.C. § 2331: Definitions. U.S. Government Publishing Office. https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCODE-2009-title18/USCODE-2009-title18-partI-chap113B-sec2331
USA FREEDOM Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114 23, 129 Stat. 268 (USA). (2015).
Venice Commission. (2015). Report on the democratic oversight of signals intelligence agencies (CDL-AD(2015)011). Council of Europe.
Venice Commission. (2016). Opinion on emergency decree laws in Turkey (CDL-AD series). Council of Europe.
Venice Commission. (2016). Opinion on Turkish legislation relevant to the internet (Law No. 5651). Council of Europe.
Venice Commission. (2016). Rule of law checklist (CDL-AD(2016)007). Council of Europe.
Venice Commission. (2025). The Updated Rule of Law Checklist (CDL-AD(2025)002). Council of Europe.
Wæver, O. (1995). Securitization and desecuritization. In R. D. Lipschutz (Ed.), On security. Columbia University Press.
Won, Y. (2025). Emergency powers and COVID 19 derogations. International Journal of Constitutional Law, 23(1), 113–147.
World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our common future. Oxford University Press.
Zalnieriute, M. (2021). A struggle for competence: National security, surveillance and the scope of EU law at the Court of Justice. The Modern Law Review, 85(1), 198–217.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
I (we) submit this article which is original and unpublished, of my (our) own authorship, to the evaluation of the Veredas do Direito Journal, and agree that the related copyrights will become exclusive property of the Journal, being prohibited any partial or total copy in any other part or other printed or online communication vehicle dissociated from the Veredas do Direito Journal, without the necessary and prior authorization that should be requested in writing to Editor in Chief. I (we) also declare that there is no conflict of interest between the articles theme, the author (s) and enterprises, institutions or individuals.
I (we) recognize that the Veredas do Direito Journal is licensed under a CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE.
Licença Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
