Parliament Approves New Judicial Reforms

The parliament has approved new amendments in Turkish Penal Code and Anti-Terror Act last night - a series of judicial reforms publicly known as 4th Judicial Package.

Some of the amendments in the judicial reforms included:

* Anti-Terror Act Article 6: The amended version envisioned penalization of those who propagate or publish declarations of an illegal organization only in the case that content legitimizes or encourages acts of violence, threats or force.

* Anti-Terror Act Article 6: The amended version excluded those who propagate or publish declarations of an illegal organization from being defined as an illegal organization member.

* Turkish Penal Code Article 220: The amended version technically excluded penalization for those who commit a criminal act for an illegal organization while not being a member for being an illegal organization member.

* Statute of limitations will not apply for torture crimes. (HK/BM)