ANKARA - The censorship law was published in the Official Gazette after the approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

 

The decision that AKP Chair and President Tayyip Erdoğan approved the Law No. 7418 on the Amendment of Press Law and Some Laws was published in the Official Gazette. Some provisions of the law will apply from January 1 and April 1, 2023.

 

With the enactment of the Censorship Law, a significant threat to both the use of freedom of expression by citizens, including social media and personal correspondence, has been enacted, as well as putting great pressure on independent journalism.

 

ARTICLE 29

 

With the 29th article, which is the subject to reactions, a new crime under the name of "publicly disseminating misleading information to the public" has entered the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). According to this article, “Anyone who publicly disseminates false information about the internal and external security, public order and general health of the country, in a way that is suitable for disturbing the public peace, with the sole motive of creating anxiety, fear or panic among the people, will be sentenced to imprisonment from one year to three years. ” 

 

The Republican People's Party (CHP) stated that it would bring the censorship law to the Constitutional Court (AYM) after Erdoğan's approval.