All the sanctions of the Press Law in one table. The floor of the penalty varies according to the type of publication.
The Penal Articles
| Article | Breach | Range of penalty | Liable person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Not showing the compulsory information (the imprint) - in printed works and internet news sites | A heavy fine of 500 million - 20 billion lira | In a periodical the responsible editor and the authority to whom they are attached; in a non-periodical the publisher and the printer who does not show an address |
| 16 | Continuing to publish a suspended publication | A heavy fine of 1 - 15 billion lira | The owner of the publication, the responsible editor and the authority to whom they are attached |
| 17 | Not complying with the delivery and preservation obligation | A heavy fine of 300 million - 1 billion lira | The printer; in an internet news site the responsible editor |
| 18 | Not publishing a correction and reply | A heavy fine of 10 - 150 billion lira | The responsible editor and the authority to whom they are attached; the owner of the publication is also jointly and severally liable for payment |
| 20 | Incitement to sexual assault, murder and suicide | A heavy fine of 1 - 20 billion lira | Those who publish the writing and pictures |
| 21 | Breach of the rule on the non-disclosure of identity | A heavy fine of 1 - 20 billion lira | Those who publish |
| 22/1 | Destroying or damaging a printed work | Imprisonment of up to 1 year + 1 - 5 billion lira | The person committing the act |
| 22/2 | Obstruction by violence or threat | Imprisonment of up to 2 years + 2 - 10 billion lira | The person committing the act |
| 23 | Breach of the duty to distribute | Ten times the total price of the publication whose distribution was avoided | The distributor |
| 24/1 | Republication without citing the source | A heavy fine of 5 - 10 billion lira | Those republishing |
| 24/2 | Publication without permission where the right of republication is reserved | A heavy fine of 20 - 40 billion lira | Those republishing |
The Floors of Penalty by Type of Publication
In some articles the penalty may not fall below a lower limit set by the type of publication:
| Article | Regional periodical | National periodical / internet news site |
|---|---|---|
| 15 - the imprint | 2 billion | 5 billion |
| 16 - a suspended publication | 5 billion | 10 billion |
| 18 - not publishing a reply | 20 billion | 50 billion |
| 20 - incitement | 2 billion | 10 billion - including internet news sites |
| 21 - identity | 2 billion | 10 billion - including internet news sites |
| Provisional Art. 1 - not notifying the type of publication | 2 billion | 5 billion |
The Two Heaviest Sanctions
| Article | Why is it heavy? |
|---|---|
| Art. 18 | The highest range of fine (10-150 billion) + it may be converted into imprisonment (the exception in Art. 28) + the judge also decides on an announcement in two internet news sites and in two newspapers with a circulation of over one hundred thousand |
| Art. 22 | Direct imprisonment (1-2 years) + it may be converted + where committed collectively and in certain places the penalty is increased by up to a half |
The Prohibition of Conversion
Article 28: apart from the offences in Arts. 18 and 22, the fines imposed for the offences provided for in this Law may not be converted into a penalty restricting liberty.
We cover the detail in the conversion guide.
The Periods for Bringing an Action - A Condition of Prosecution
| Type of publication | Period | Start |
|---|---|---|
| A daily periodical | Four months | The date the printed work was delivered to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office |
| An internet news site | Four months | The date the criminal complaint relating to the news was made |
| Other printed works | Six months | The date of delivery; if it was not delivered, the date the act was learned of by the prosecutor's office |
We cover the detail in the filing deadline guide.
A Repealed Article
Summary
The sanctions of Law No. 5187 are gathered between Arts. 15 and 24. The sanction is as a rule a heavy fine; direct imprisonment is provided only in Art. 22. Art. 18 has the highest range of penalty. The floors of the penalties rise according to the type of publication, and internet news sites are subject to the same floor as national periodicals in Arts. 20 and 21. Fines other than those in Arts. 18 and 22 may not be converted into a penalty restricting liberty.