In recent days, Turkish media has been reporting on a controversial judicial reform project regarding prosecution of defamation crimes on social media. According to the newspaper Hürriyet, the proposed changes include exclusively imposing fines, which would eliminate access to the court process in such cases.
Under the planned provisions, defamation crimes committed on social media would be excluded from the possibility of reaching a settlement between the parties and treated as a “preliminary fee.” The court would determine a fine of 100 Turkish lira per day of harm, which could be paid in three equal installments. After paying the preliminary fee, the court could decide to dismiss the case.
However, the project would exempt cases involving the defamation of public officials, including the president, from this procedure. In such situations, criminal proceedings would still apply. As a result, the reform project has sparked controversy and criticism from lawyers. According to them, the victims of these crimes would have no influence on the punishment imposed on the perpetrators.
Currently, the prosecution of defamation crimes on social media accounts for about 20 percent of the annual workload of prosecutors. The reform project aims to reduce this burden. According to data in the report, in Istanbul alone, around 200 documents related to such crimes are registered daily.
The introduction of this reform is related to the fact that damages on social media have become a “source of income” for some individuals, who seek compensation from the perpetrators. The goal of the project is also to limit the number of cases related to defamation crimes.
The reform project has been criticized by lawyers, who believe that excluding defamation of public officials from this prosecution procedure distorts the principle of equality before the law. They fear that the new provisions could lead to an increased sense of impunity and the possibility of defamation without financial consequences.
FAQ:
1. What does the judicial reform project regarding the prosecution of defamation crimes on social media entail?
The reform project proposes exclusively imposing fines for defamation crimes on social media, meaning that these cases would not be heard in court. The court would impose a preliminary fee of 100 Turkish lira per day of harm, which can be paid in three installments.
2. Will defamation crimes against public officials still be prosecuted?
Yes, the project exempts defamation of public officials, including the president, from the fine-imposing procedure. Criminal proceedings would still apply in such cases.
3. What are the reasons for introducing such a reform?
The introduction of the reform aims to reduce the workload of prosecutors in relation to defamation crimes on social media. Damages on social media have also become a source of income for some individuals who seek compensation from the perpetrators, so the project aims to limit the number of cases related to these crimes.
4. What consequences may the implementation of the reform project have?
Lawyers are concerned that the new provisions could lead to an increased sense of impunity and the possibility of defamation without financial consequences. Excluding defamation of public officials from the fine-imposing procedure also distorts the principle of equality before the law.
Key terms:
– Judicial reform – changes introduced in the judicial system
– Defamation – the act of publishing false and derogatory information about someone
– Fine – a monetary penalty
– Court process – formal proceedings before a court to resolve disputes or crimes
– Criminal proceedings – a process conducted in court to determine guilt in a criminal case
Suggested related links:
– Hürriyet – the official website of the newspaper Hürriyet
– Mehmet Ali Çetinkaya – the official website of lawyer Mehmet Ali Çetinkaya, who criticized the reform project
The source of the article is from the blog oinegro.com.br