ANKARA, Turkey, April 15 (UPI) -- A Turkish official says he has asked justice officials to consider a proposal to put certain criminal investigations under the authority of the president.
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said the proposal is an amendment to the Article 301 censorship law, which Turkish officials passed to help gain entrance to the European Union.
EU officials said Article 301 needed changes because it prohibited free speech.
The amendment sent by Toptan to justice officials puts Article 301 criminal investigations under the authority of the president.
Leaders from the opposition Republican People's Party and Nationalist Movement Party said they opposed the amendment completely, saying the move came amid pressure from the EU and "some neo-Ottomanist" intellectuals, the Turkish daily, Today's Zaman, reported.
Oktay Vural of the Nationalist Movement Party said it was unlikely the opposition movement could sway opinions on the measure, but added, "We think this proposal runs against the spiritual and national values of the Turkish nation and its sovereignty."
