21,495 people fined for violating pandemic curfew

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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The Ministry of Interior has announced that an administrative and/or legal action was taken against 21 thousand 495 people for failing to comply with the COVID-19 curfew from March 22 to March 29, 2021.

While the weekday curfew is in effect from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. everyday across the country, the weekend curfew is in effect in the provinces in the low and medium risk group from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and in the provinces in the high and very high risk group from 9 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Saturday and from 9 p.m. on Saturday to 5 a.m. on Monday.

The statement of the Ministry of Interior has noted that the curfews will remain in effect in the aforementioned manner, adding, "Until our struggle against the outbreak ends and a full normalization is adopted, we need to observe the measures of hygiene, masks and distance."

Courts, legists say that it is unlawful

On the other side, lawyers have long been emphasizing that the fines imposed for failing to comply with the curfews or mask rules are not lawful and different courts in Ankara, Adana and Bolu provinces have cancelled the fines, which also confirms the comments of lawyers.

CLICK - 'Police don't have the authority to "fine citizens on the street"'

İstanbul Branch Chair of the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) Gökmen Yeşil previously spoke to bianet about the issue and underlined that the administrative bodies, i.e. police officers and governor's offices, did not have the authority to impose such fines on people.

In treating the ones violating the curfews and mask obligations amid the pandemic, a fine of 3,180 lira (approx. 425 USD) is imposed on citizens as per the Article 282 of the Law no. 1593 on Public Health. Accordingly, Yeşil also questioned the reason why the fine is imposed on the upper limit (3,180 lira) while the lower limit as per the Tax Procedure Law is 789 lira. (RT/SD)