Turkish Presidency allocates 2 billion liras to build 36 new prisons this year

As part of a recently announced investment program, the Turkish Presidency has allocated 2 billion liras to build 36 new prisons in 2022. There has been also a remarkable increase in the funding allocated for intelligence and security services.

Wednesday January 19 2022 01:11 pm

Duvar English

The 2022 Investment Program was announced with the signature of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and there was a remarkable increase in the funding allocated for intelligence and security services as well as the construction of prisons throughout the country. Accordingly, 2 billion Turkish Liras have been allocated to the Justice Ministry to build 36 new prisons in 2022.

According to reporting by Deutsche Welle Turkish, 825 million liras have been allocated to the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) this year. The organization was given a budget of 300 million liras last year but they had exceeded it enormously, spending 631 liras instead.

Funds have been also allocated to the Interior Ministry to materialize projects that aim to ensure border security. Accordingly, 292 million liras are planned to be spent on border walls -- especially for the ones located in the eastern province of Van, where Afghan refugees have frequently transited in recent years.

Turkey is currently building a concrete wall along the Iranian border to cover the entirety of the 295-kilometer frontier.

Millions of liras have been also allocated to the Turkish police forces. The organization has been given a budget of 11 million liras for the purchase of machinery and equipment "in the fight against drugs," and another 80 million liras for the purposes of "increasing the counter-terrorism activity." Also, a total of 400 million liras have been allocated for the organization's "Intelligence Services" unit for the 2022-2023 period.