Efficient Fight Against Discrimination and Hate Crimes with the New Reform Package

Translation by Fiona DUENYAS

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the new reform package called Human Rights Action Plan. The comprehensive law reform package also includes significant steps to increase efficiency in the fight against discrimination and hate speech. According to the plan, new arrangements will be made in the Turkish Penal Code regarding discrimination and hate crimes.

"Everyone is equal before the law"

One of the 11 core principals of the plan that is set to be implemented over a 2-year period is stated as “Everyone is equal before the law without any discrimination based on language, religion, race, color, gender, political views, philosophical beliefs, sect or other reasons.”

Freedom of religion and conscience

The action plan depicted the activities necessary to ensure that freedom of religion and conscience are provided, in detail. Some of the actions declared were allowing public and private sector staff and students to take leave for their religious holidays, regardless of their religion, meeting regularly to determine problems and provide solutions with non-Muslim community representatives, and restructuring the Foundations Regulations on the issue of the non-Muslim community foundations electoral process.

Increasing the fight against hate speech

In the action plan that includes the clause, “Everyone is equal before the law without any discrimination based on language, religion, race, color, gender, political views, philosophical beliefs, sect or other reasons”, steps to be taken in professional life, education and penal code has been determined. Increasing the consciousness and awareness of also the press members regarding hate speech is included among the objectives.

Activities to ensure freedom of religion and conscience in the broadest manner

A - The related legislation and practice securing freedom of religion and conscience in the broadest manner will be reviewed per international human rights standards.

B - Public and private sector staff and students will be allowed to take leave for their religious holidays, regardless of their religion.

C - Prisoner and detainees in penal execution institutions will be granted additional rights including open meetings and video calls on their religious holidays.

D - Regarding the need and demand, appropriate spaces will be provided for people of different religions to practice their religion, in buildings and areas allocated for public use.

E - Meetings with non-Muslim community representatives will be organized regularly to determine problems and provide solutions.

F - Arrangements will be made in the Foundation Regulations regarding the non-Muslim community foundations board formation and electoral process.

Increasing efficiency in the fight against hate speech and discrimination

A - Hate speech and discrimination based on language, religion, race, color, gender, political views, philosophical beliefs, sect, or other reasons will be fought against effectively.

B - The efficiency of the policies to combat discrimination in professional life will be increased.

C - Investigation guides will be developed to effectively fight discrimination and hate crimes.

D - New regulations will be made in the Turkish Penal Code regarding discrimination and hate crime.

E - The victims severely affected by discrimination and hate crimes will be supported psychosocially and legally.

F - Educational material will be continued to be organized bearing in mind principles of objectivity, neutrality, and diversity.

G - A database will be developed, and statistics will be collected on discrimination and hate crimes data. Law enforcement and prosecution staff will be educated regarding the issue.

H - Through preparing education booklets for the press members, the awareness regarding hate and discrimination among press members will be increased.

Related News

28 March

Democrat Party (DP) Visited Şalom

18 March

Moris Karmona Declared War On Bullying With His Book "Morhis"

Moris Karmona´s book "Morhis" in which he wrote his life story, has been published.

1 March

82nd Anniversary of the Struma Disaster

The Struma Immigration Ship had sailed from Constanza, Romania to take the Jews desperate to run from the Nazis to today´s Israel, and was sunk by a torpedo from a Russian submarine after anchoring off the coast of Istanbul for weeks.

26 February

Jenisya Yaeş Came First in the 16th National Young Soloist Competition

Soprano Jenisya Yaeş, who is studying at the Dokuz Eylül University State Conservatory, Opera Art Major Undergraduate 3rd grade, has been deemed worthy of first place in the University Category of the 16th National Young Soloist Competition.

19 February

Are You Ready for the Adventures of "Penga and Menga"?

Penga and Menga are two penguins who live far away from our country and are different from each other as day and night. What unites them is their adherence to their Jewish identity and traditions. It is a heartwarming story that narrates the harmony of differences and the friendship that arises from this harmony. The creators of the characters Penga and Menga are Vivet Pitelon Sparkes and her son Jim Sparkes. Also, the illustrations in the "Holidays" series (consisting of 11 books) designed for children, belong to both of them. The stories are written and translated into English (from Turkish) by Vivet.

13 February

Şalom Now on Mobile App

Şalom´s mobile application has been launched on IOS and Android platforms.

8 February

The Great Loss of Turkish Literature

Mario Levi, the great author who had contributed many important works to Turkish literature, passed away. The famous author was bid farewell on his last journey on Thursday, February 1st, with a ceremony held along with his loved ones at the Acibadem Jewish Cemetery.

18 January

Sending Departed Hanri Benazus Off On His Last Journey

16 January

Hanri Benazus Has Passed Away

The investigative writer and businessman Hanri Benazus who owned the largest Atatürk photography collection in Turkey, passed away at 94.

9 January

UÖMO Middle School Students´ Success in the Innovation Competition

Ulus Jewish Schools Middle School´s young tech geniuses achieved great success in the 10th Başahşehir Living Lab Innovation Competition. In the competition where 220 projects from all over Turkey have competed with the "Innovative ideas are competing" motto, UÖMO students, standing out from their rivals with their "Natural Disaster Kit", came third in the middle school category.