CHP applies to top court demanding annulment of key article of 'censorship law'
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The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has applied to the Constitutional Court requesting a stay of execution for article 29 of the recently adopted "disinformation law."
The article in question stipulates prison sentences of up to three years for "publicly disseminating misleading information."
CLICK - Türkiye's new 'disinformation law' explained
Speaking to reporters outside of the Constitutional Court following the application, MP Engin Altay, deputy chair of the CHP parliamentary group, said, "This is a Stalin law. This law is to silence the opposition, the media, the press and social media.
"It is a law to present their lies as the truth and the facts as lies and it is not possible to accept it. There is a decision by the Supreme Court. This is contradictory to Article 153 of the Constitution and the principle of judgments being definitive. I request the supreme court to discuss the application related to article 29 at once without any delay in terms of stay of execution.
"This law will not only destroy democracy in Türkiye, not only lower the position of Türkiye within the democracy league but will keep the country outside this category."
The CHP is going to make a comprehensive application for the annulment of all 40 articles of the law within 60 days.
About the lawAccording to the "Draft Bill on the Amendment of the Press Law and Some Laws," those who work for internet news portals will be regarded as journalists and they will be able to apply to the Department of Communication for a press credential. Public employees working in information services in public institutions, radios and televisions will also be able to receive press credentials. Internet news portals will be taken within the scope of periodical publications. The proposal reads, "Those who publicly distribute information which is not really related with the security of the country inside or outside, public order or public health with the purpose of creating concern, fear or panic among the people in a manner that domestic peace" may be destroyed will be punished with an imprisonment sentence of 1 to 3 years. With the proposal, reporting offensive content related to the National Intelligence Agency activities and personnel is included within the scope of catalog crimes. Article 29 The following expression was added to article 217 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 dated 26/9/2004: "Openly disseminating information misleading the public" Article 217/A- (1) Anyone who spreads information about internal or external security of the country, public order and public health which is not true just in order to create concern, fear, or panic among people in a manner that domestic peace may be disrupted will be punished with imprisonment sentence of one to three years. (2) If the crime is committed by an offender concealing their identity or within the framework of organizational activity, the penalty will be increased half fold." |
(HA/PE/VK)