Gül approves laws on army exemption, match-fixing jail terms reduction

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish President Abdullah Gül on Wednesday, December 14, approved a law on reducing jail terms for match-fixers, and another law that enables draftees to be exempted from military service by paying a certain amount of money, two much-debated laws recently passed in parliament, Today’s Zaman reported.

Parliament recently voted for the new reduced term of a maximum three years in prison for those convicted of match-fixing, overriding a veto by President Gül on Dec. 2, who argued that the amendments gave “the impression of a special arrangement” to save certain suspects, including Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım. In addition to the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) were in support of the amendment, which passed through Parliament with the backing of 284 deputies on Saturday.

The law has sparked controversy, as it comes amidst a major match-rigging scandal in Turkish football. Currently, 93 suspects, including club chairmen, football players, managers, agents and coaches are accused of involvement in match-fixing.

Gül did not have the constitutional authority to veto the law for the second time, but could have taken the law to the Constitutional Court for annulment.

The other law approved by Gül on Wednesday concerns a newly introduced military exemption scheme. “The Bill Amending the Law on Military Service” was approved late last month in Parliament following talks that lasted for 12 hours. According to the bill, men born before Jan. 1, 1983 who have not yet completed their compulsory military service can opt to pay TL 30,000 in lieu of performing their military service. Those who wish to be exempted must apply and complete their payments within six months. The money will go to a bank account under the name of the minister of family and social policy at Ziraat Bankası.