Will Turkish police protect World Cup stadiums in Qatar, opposition MP asks gov't

Duvar English 

A main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy has asked the government whether the Turkish police will protect the stadiums during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

Speaking in parliament on Nov. 10 during talks on ratifying an agreement between Ankara and Doha regarding sending police officers, including riot police, to Qatar, CHP lawmaker Utku Çakırözer slammed the government for not revealing the details of the deal. 

"When you ask whether there are examples of Turkish police protecting organizations abroad, they say, 'This is the first time.' How many police officers, gendarmerie or soldiers will be sent?" Çakırözer asked. 

"This is kept hidden like a secret. They're telling us that the implementation protocol will come after the deal is ratified in parliament. But then we find out that the negotiations on this protocol have begun in Ankara when it's unknown whether parliament will ratify the deal," the deputy noted. 

"We can't accept this situation that completely ignores the will of parliament." 

Another opposition deputy from the right-wing Good (İYİ) Party slammed the agreement for putting Turkish security forces in danger. 

"Our security forces are put at risk of being attacked by ISIS or another group within the scope of the World Cup organization. How can that be explained with national interests or security?" lawmaker Zeki Hakan Sıdalı asked. 

"Besides, we don't find it appropriate for our security forces to protect a stadium in another country as if they're a private security company's personnel," he noted. 

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