The right of reply and correction is the fastest legal instrument available against a publisher in Turkey: no lawsuit is needed, the judge decides without a hearing, and the deadlines are counted in days. In exchange, it is unforgiving of procedural error — anyone who misses the two-month window for making the request, or who drafts the text outside the limits set by the statute, loses the right altogether. This guide sets out how the right arises, its deadlines and its formal requirements, centred on Article 14 of Press Law No. 5187 (the "Press Law"); it ends with two copy-ready templates: the reply-and-correction request to be sent to the publisher, and the petition to be filed with the sulh ceza hâkimliği (criminal judgeship of peace) if the text is not published.
The constitutional basis: Article 32
The right originates in Article 32 of the Turkish Constitution: “The right of correction and reply shall be accorded only in cases where the dignity and honour of persons is touched upon or where publications are made that are contrary to the truth concerning them, and it shall be regulated by law.” The same article states that if the correction and reply is not published, the judge shall rule on whether it must be published within seven days at the latest from the date of the interested party's application.
This constitutional frame has two practical consequences. First, the right arises only in respect of personalised infringements; disagreeing with a report in general terms, disliking a commentary, or wanting to add an institutional viewpoint does not give rise to a right of reply. Second, in regulating this right the legislature cannot extend the constitutional seven-day period for the decision — and indeed Article 14(4) of Law No. 5187 gives the judge three days.
When does the right arise?
Under Article 14(1) of Law No. 5187, the right arises where one of the following two situations occurs in a periodical publication:
- A publication is made that violates the honour and dignity of a person
- A publication is made that is contrary to the truth concerning a person
The concept of “periodical publication” (süreli yayın, the statutory term for a mevkute or periodical) covers internet news sites as well following Law No. 7418; Article 2(m) of Law No. 5187 defines an internet news site as “a periodical publication established and operated for the purpose of presenting written, visual or audio content in the nature of news or commentary at regular intervals in the internet environment”. For a blog or social media account that does not fall within this definition, the route is not Article 14 but Internet Law No. 5651. On which text is subject to which statute, the comparison in which law applies to which type of media gives guidance.
The deadlines: request, publication and application
Three separate periods follow one another: the period for sending the request, the publisher's period for publishing, and — if it is not published — the period for applying to the judgeship. If the first link is missed, the others never begin to run.
- Period for the request: The injured person sends the correction and reply text within two months of the date of publication (Art. 14(1)).
- Where the holder has died: If the person entitled dies, one of the heirs may exercise the right; in that case one month is added to the two-month period, i.e. three months in total (Art. 14(7)).
- Period for applying to the judgeship: Fifteen days running from the expiry of the period allowed for publication where nothing was published, or from the date of publication where it was published in a manner contrary to the statute (Art. 14(4)).
| Type of publication | Period for publishing (Art. 14(1)) | Manner of publication | Period for applying to the judgeship (Art. 14(4)) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily periodical publication | Within 3 days at the latest of the date the text was received | On the same page and columns as the item concerned, in the same type size, in the same manner | 15 days from the expiry of the period |
| Other periodical publications (weekly, monthly, etc.) | In the first issue appearing after three days from the date the text was received | On the same page and columns as the item concerned, in the same type size, in the same manner | 15 days from the expiry of the period |
| Internet news site | Within 1 day at the latest of the date the text was received | On the same page and columns as the item concerned, with a URL link provided, in the same type size, in the same manner | 15 days from the expiry of the period |
| Internet news site — where access has been blocked / the content removed | The same periods | For 1 week, of which the first 24 hours on the home page | 15 days from the expiry of the period |
| Where published in a manner contrary to the statute (all types) | — | — | 15 days from the date of the non-compliant publication |
Rules specific to internet news sites
The sentences added to Article 14 by Law No. 7418 impose three additional obligations on digital publication:
- The period falls to one day — the three-day period applicable to printed daily publications does not apply here.
- The text is published on the same page and columns as the item concerned; consigning it to a separate “corrections” archive page is contrary to the statute.
- It is published with a URL link provided: a reciprocal link must be established between the reply text and the report to which the reply relates.
Where a decision to block access to the report and/or to remove the content has been implemented, or where the site has removed the content of its own motion, the reply and correction text is published on the internet news site concerned for one week, of which the first twenty-four hours on the home page (Art. 14(1), final sentence). In other words, deleting the report does not extinguish the obligation; on the contrary, it moves the text to the home page.
Formal requirements for the text
Article 14(1)-(3) binds the form of the text at statutory level as well. A text that does not comply with these requirements may be refused even if it was sent in time:
- The responsible editor publishes the text without making any correction or addition — it may not be shortened, given a headline, or accompanied by an editor's note.
- Publication is made on the same page and columns, in the same type size and in the same manner.
- The correction and reply must identify the item that gave rise to it (Art. 14(2)).
- The correction and reply may not be longer than the item concerned (Art. 14(2)).
- If the item that gave rise to the reply is a text, picture or cartoon of fewer than twenty lines, the correction and reply may not exceed thirty lines (Art. 14(2)).
- If the periodical is printed in more than one place, the text is published in all editions in which the item concerned appeared (Art. 14(3)).
Template 1 — Reply and correction request to be sent to the publisher
Once the dotted fields have been completed, the text below can be sent directly to the office of the responsible editor. Choose a method of delivery with high evidential value.
TO THE OFFICE OF THE RESPONSIBLE EDITOR OF
................................................ NEWSPAPER /
INTERNET NEWS SITE
Address : ..................................................
KEP / e-mail : ..................................................
REQUEST FOR REPLY AND CORRECTION
APPLICANT : ....................................
National ID No.: ...................
Address : ....................................
Phone / e-mail : ....................................
COUNSEL (if any) : Att. ...............................
(Bar / Registry No: ...............)
SUBJECT : Request for publication of the reply and correction text
set out below, pursuant to Article 14 of Press Law
No. 5187.
--- DETAILS OF THE PUBLICATION --------------------------------
Name of publication : ..............................................
Type of publication : [ ] Daily periodical publication
[ ] Other periodical (weekly / monthly ...)
[ ] Internet news site
Date of publication : ...... / ...... / 20......
Title of the item : ..............................................
Page / column : ............ page, ............ column
URL (if online) : https://.....................................
Date accessed : ...... / ...... / 20......
Length of the item : ............ lines
---------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENT OF GROUNDS
1) The item identified above was published on
...... / ...... / 20....... This request is submitted within the
TWO-MONTH period provided for in the first paragraph of Article 14
of Law No. 5187.
[ ] The right is being exercised in the capacity of heir; pursuant
to Art. 14(7) one month has been added to the period (three
months in total).
2) The item in question contains the following statements concerning
me:
'..............................................................'
These statements;
[ ] violate my honour and dignity,
[ ] are contrary to the truth as regards me.
3) The true position is as follows: ..............................
................................................................
................................................................
(Supporting document / record: ...............................)
4) The reply and correction text set out below contains no element of
a criminal offence, is not contrary to the legally protected
interests of third parties, and is not longer than the item that
gave rise to the reply.
--- REPLY AND CORRECTION TEXT TO BE PUBLISHED -----------------
'In the report headed ''.........................................''
published in your ...... / ...... / 20...... edition, it is stated
in relation to me that ..........................................
................................................................
The truth is as follows: ........................................
................................................................
................................................................
This correction and reply is published pursuant to Article 14 of
Press Law No. 5187.'
(This text runs to ...... lines. Where the item that gave rise to the
reply is fewer than twenty lines, this text does not exceed thirty
lines.)
---------------------------------------------------------------
LEGAL GROUNDS : Article 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of
Türkiye; Articles 14 and 18 of Press Law No. 5187;
other relevant legislation.
RELIEF SOUGHT : For the reasons set out above, I request that the
reply and correction text above be published pursuant to Article 14
of Law No. 5187, WITHOUT ANY CORRECTION OR ADDITION, on the same
page and columns as the item concerned, in the same type size and
in the same manner;
[ ] in a daily periodical publication, within THREE DAYS AT THE
LATEST of the date this text is received,
[ ] in another periodical publication, IN THE FIRST ISSUE APPEARING
AFTER THREE DAYS from the date this text is received,
[ ] on an internet news site, within ONE DAY AT THE LATEST of the
date this text is received, WITH A URL LINK PROVIDED,
[ ] where a decision to block access to and/or remove the content
has been implemented, or the content has been removed of the
site's own motion, for ONE WEEK, of which the first TWENTY-FOUR
HOURS ON THE HOME PAGE,
and, where the publication is printed in more than one place, that
it be published in ALL EDITIONS in which the item concerned
appeared.
ANNEXES : 1- Copy / printout of the publication concerned
2- (For online publication) URL record and screenshot
3- Documents establishing the true position
4- Photocopy of identity document
5- (If heir) certificate of inheritance
6- (If represented) copy of the power of attorney
...... / ...... / 20......
Name and Surname
SignatureIf it is not published: the criminal judgeship of peace route
Article 14(4) recognises two separate scenarios, and in both the period is fifteen days:
- Where nothing was published: The period runs from the expiry of the period allowed for publication in Art. 14(1). For a daily publication the clock starts three days after the date the text was received; for an internet news site, one day after.
- Where publication was contrary to the statute: The period runs from the date of the non-compliant publication. Publication on a different page, in a smaller type size, in shortened form, or without a URL link falls within this category.
The application is made to the criminal judgeship of peace of the place where the person requesting the reply and correction is located; there is no need to travel to the publisher's head office. The judge decides the request within three days and without holding a hearing (Art. 14(4)). An expedited objection (acele itiraz) lies against the decision; the competent authority examines the objection and rules within three days, and that decision is final (Art. 14(5)).
Template 2 — Petition to the criminal judgeship of peace
The petition below is used where the reply text was not published in time or was published contrary to the statute. Submit the annexes in full: the judge will decide on the file, without a hearing.
TO THE ................................ DUTY CRIMINAL JUDGESHIP
OF PEACE
APPLICANT : ....................................
National ID No.: ...................
Address : ....................................
Phone / e-mail : ....................................
COUNSEL (if any) : Att. ...............................
RESPONDENT : ................................ (name of the
publication)
Responsible editor : ................................
Owner of the publication : ..........................
Address : ................................
SUBJECT : Application for an order that the reply and correction text
sent pursuant to Article 14 of Press Law No. 5187 be
published, or be published in compliance with the
provisions of the Law, on the ground that it was
[ ] not published within the statutory period,
[ ] published in a manner contrary to the provisions of the
Law.
STATEMENT OF GROUNDS
1) On ...... / ...... / 20...... the item headed
'.....................................' was published in the
periodical publication named ................................ .
(ANNEX-1)
[ ] The publication is an internet news site; URL: .............
2) Since the item in question violates my honour and dignity / is
contrary to the truth as regards me, a reply and correction text
was sent on ...... / ...... / 20...... pursuant to Article 14(1) of
Law No. 5187; the text was received by the respondent on
...... / ...... / 20....... (ANNEX-2, ANNEX-3)
3) The text sent contains no element of a criminal offence, is not
contrary to the legally protected interests of third parties, is
not longer than the item that gave rise to the reply, and (where
the item is fewer than twenty lines) does not exceed thirty lines.
4) Notwithstanding the above;
[ ] the text was NOT PUBLISHED AT ALL within the period provided
for in Article 14(1) of the Law. Date of expiry of the period
allowed for publication: ...... / ...... / 20......
[ ] the text was published on ...... / ...... / 20......, but
contrary to the Law in that it was published
[ ] not on the same page and columns as the item concerned,
[ ] not in the same type size and in the same manner,
[ ] without a URL link being provided,
[ ] in shortened form / with additions made,
[ ] not in all editions.
(ANNEX-4)
5) This application is made within the FIFTEEN-DAY statutory period
under Article 14(4) of Law No. 5187, running from
[ ] the expiry of the period allowed for publication,
[ ] the date of the non-compliant publication.
6) The jurisdiction of your judgeship rests on the criterion of 'the
place where the applicant is located' in Article 14(4) of Law
No. 5187.
LEGAL GROUNDS : Article 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of
Türkiye; Articles 14 and 18 of Press Law No. 5187;
Criminal Procedure Code No. 5271 and other relevant
legislation.
EVIDENCE : Copy / screenshot and URL record of the publication
concerned, the reply and correction text, proof of
dispatch and receipt, records relating to the
non-compliant publication, and all lawful evidence.
RELIEF SOUGHT : For the reasons set out above, I respectfully request
an order:
1- that the attached reply and correction text be published in
compliance with Article 14 of Law No. 5187;
2- that, pursuant to the third paragraph of Article 18 of Law
No. 5187, the text also be published as an advertisement, at the
expense of the owner of the publication, on two internet news
sites and in two newspapers with a circulation of more than one
hundred thousand;
3- that the costs of the proceedings and counsel's fees be borne by
the respondent.
ANNEXES : ANNEX-1 Copy / screenshot and URL of the publication
concerned
ANNEX-2 Copy of the reply and correction text
ANNEX-3 Proof of dispatch and receipt (notary / registered
post with return receipt / KEP)
ANNEX-4 Records of and comparison with the non-compliant
publication
ANNEX-5 Photocopy of identity document
ANNEX-6 (If any) copy of the power of attorney
...... / ...... / 20......
Applicant / Counsel
Name and Surname - SignatureHow do the deadlines run after the judge's decision?
If the judge orders publication, the publication periods in Article 14(1) (three days / the first issue after three days / one day) begin to run afresh. The starting point is expressly fixed in Article 14(6):
| Situation | Start of the periods |
|---|---|
| Where the criminal judge of peace's decision <b>has not been challenged</b> | The <b>date the decision became final</b> |
| Where an <b>expedited objection has been lodged</b> against the decision | The <b>date of service</b> of the competent authority's decision |
This distinction also determines when you can return to the judgeship in a second round: if publication does not follow despite a final decision, the criminal regime in Article 18 comes into play.
The sanction for non-publication — Article 18
Article 18(1) of Law No. 5187 punishes the responsible editor and the official to whom the responsible editor reports, where they fail to comply with final judicial decisions ordering publication of the correction and reply, with a heavy fine. The nominal range written in the statute is from ten billion to one hundred and fifty billion lira; the fine may not be less than twenty billion lira for regional periodicals and fifty billion lira for national periodicals.
Under Article 18(2), the owner of the publication, the responsible editor and the official to whom the responsible editor reports are jointly and severally liable for payment of the heavy fine — the sanction does not rest on one person alone.
Article 18(3) governs the additional sanction extended by Law No. 7418: where the correction and reply text is not published, or is published without complying with the conditions in Article 14(1), the judge shall also order that the text be published as an advertisement on two internet news sites and in two newspapers with a circulation of more than one hundred thousand, at the expense of the owner of the publication. Before Law No. 7418 the provision covered newspapers only; the phrase “on two internet news sites and” was added by that Law.
The workflow on the publisher's side
The clock starts when the reply and correction text arrives; the process is a legal obligation, not an editorial one. A minimum workflow for publishers:
- Record the date and time of arrival of the text; file the KEP or postal receipt.
- Check whether the request falls within the two-month period, or the three-month period where an heir is applying.
- Assess whether the text contains any element of a criminal offence and whether it is contrary to the interests of third parties.
- Carry out the length check: is it longer than the item concerned? If the item is fewer than twenty lines, does the text exceed thirty lines?
- If it is to be published, publish it without any correction or addition, on the same page and columns and in the same type size; on an internet news site, establish the URL link.
- If the content was previously removed, keep the text online for one week with the first 24 hours on the home page.
- If there is more than one edition, publish it in all editions.
- If you decide not to publish, file your reasons in writing; at the judgeship stage that file is the whole of your defence.
Eight common mistakes
- Taking the date the report was seen rather than the date of publication as the starting point, and missing the two-month period.
- Putting insults or allegations about third parties into the reply text, rendering it unpublishable.
- Sending the request by e-mail alone and being unable to prove the date of receipt.
- Assuming a three-day period for an internet news site — the period is one day.
- Publishing the reply text in a separate corrections archive rather than where the report appeared.
- Publishing without establishing a URL link and then arguing “we published it”.
- Deleting the report and assuming the obligation has ended — where the content is removed, the text is published on the home page.
- Counting the fifteen-day judgeship period from the date the request was sent; the period runs from the expiry of the publication period.
Summary timeline
DAY 0 The publication giving rise to the reply appears.
|
| <= 2 MONTHS AT THE LATEST (3 MONTHS for an heir)
v
DAY X The reply and correction text REACHES the publisher
(receipt).
|
| Daily periodical publication : 3 days at the latest
| Other periodicals : first issue after 3 days
| Internet news site : 1 day at the latest
| (if content removed: first 24 hours home page, 1 week)
v
DAY Y The publication period EXPIRES.
|
| <= WITHIN 15 DAYS, application to the criminal judgeship
| of peace (for a non-compliant publication, the period
| runs from the date of that publication)
v
DAY Z The judge rules WITHIN 3 DAYS, without a hearing.
|
| Expedited objection -> the competent authority rules
| WITHIN 3 DAYS, and that decision is FINAL.
v
The publication periods run afresh:
no objection -> from the date the decision became final
objection -> from service of the competent authority's
decision
|
v
If a final decision is not complied with -> Art. 18 of Law
No. 5187 (heavy fine, joint and several liability,
advertisement on two internet news sites and in two
newspapers).