The founding statute of Turkish press law is Press Law No. 5187 of 9/6/2004. In 2022 internet news sites and the press card were brought within its scope by Law No. 7418. This guide takes the Law article by article.
The Skeleton of the Law
| Section | Articles | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| General provisions | Arts. 1-3 | Purpose and scope, definitions, press freedom |
| Starting a publication | Arts. 4-10 | The imprint, the responsible editor, the owner, the declaration, loss of the right, delivery and preservation |
| Liability | Arts. 11-13 | Criminal liability, the source of news, civil liability |
| The right of reply | Art. 14 | Correction and reply |
| Penalties | Arts. 15-24 | The imprint, a suspended publication, delivery, the reply, incitement, identity, obstruction, distribution, republication |
| Procedure | Arts. 25-29 | Seizure, the periods for actions, the competent court, the prohibition of conversion, notification |
| The press card | Additional Arts. 1-8 | Added in 2022 |
| Provisional | Provisional Arts. 1-4 | Compliance periods |
1. The Framework of the Law
- purpose-and-scope-of-the-turkish-press-law
- definitions-in-the-turkish-press-law-no-5187
- what-counts-as-an-internet-news-site-in-turkey
- article-3-of-the-turkish-press-law-freedom-of-the-press
- which-law-applies-turkish-media
- what-law-no-7418-changed-in-the-turkish-press-law
Article 3: the press is free. That freedom includes the rights to obtain information, to disseminate, to criticise, to comment and to create works. Limitation is possible only in conformity with the requirements of a democratic society and on the grounds listed in the article.
2. The Imprint and the Responsible Editor
- what-must-a-turkish-newspaper-imprint-contain
- news-website-imprint-template-turkey
- is-appointing-a-responsible-editor-mandatory-turkey
- conditions-for-a-responsible-editor-turkey
- who-may-own-a-periodical-in-turkey-the-conditions
| Condition | The responsible editor - Art. 5/2 |
|---|---|
| a | To have completed the age of eighteen |
| b | To have a place of residence in Turkey and to reside there continuously |
| c | To be a graduate of at least secondary education or an equivalent institution |
| d | Not to be under a restriction or barred from public service |
| e | Not to have been convicted of offences involving moral turpitude |
| f | For those who are not citizens of Turkey, the condition of reciprocity |
3. The Declaration and Delivery
- periodical-publication-declaration-turkey
- must-an-internet-news-site-file-a-declaration-turkey
- what-happens-if-a-press-declaration-is-incomplete-turkey
- when-a-periodical-owner-loses-that-right-in-turkey
- how-many-copies-a-newspaper-must-deliver-turkey
- where-mandatory-copies-are-sent-turkey
- how-long-internet-news-site-content-must-be-retained-turkey
Article 10: the printer is obliged to deliver two signed copies of every publication they print to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the locality on the day distribution or publication takes place. (Added paragraph: 7418) Content published on an internet news site is preserved for two years in a way ensuring its accuracy and integrity.
4. Liability
- the-chain-of-criminal-liability-in-the-turkish-press
- journalist-source-protection-turkey
- who-to-sue-over-a-news-report-turkey
Article 12: the owner of a periodical, the responsible editor and the author may not be compelled to disclose any source of news, including information and documents, or to give evidence on that subject.
5. The Right of Correction and Reply
- the-right-of-reply-and-correction-in-turkey-full-guide
- formal-requirements-of-a-reply-and-correction-text-turkey
- right-of-reply-deadlines-turkey
- right-of-reply-online-news-turkey
- right-of-reply-refused-what-next-turkey
- right-of-reply-length-limit-turkey
- where-a-reply-must-be-published-turkey
| Stage | A printed periodical | An internet news site |
|---|---|---|
| Period for the request | Two months - three months for an heir | Two months |
| Publication | Three days in a daily; in others the first issue after three days | One day - with a URL link |
| If the content has been removed | - | The first 24 hours on the home page, for a period of one week |
| Application to the judge | Fifteen days | Fifteen days |
| The judge's decision | Three days - without holding a hearing | Three days |
| Objection | Urgent objection - the competent authority three days, its decision final | The same |
6. The Penal Articles
- penalty-for-publishing-without-an-imprint-turkey
- the-penalty-for-continuing-a-suspended-publication-turkey
- penalty-for-failing-the-copy-delivery-duty-turkey
- penalty-for-not-publishing-a-reply-turkey
- commenting-on-ongoing-trials-turkey
- reporting-suicide-turkish-law
- sexual-offence-victim-identity-turkey
- naming-child-offenders-turkey
- obstructing-destroying-or-damaging-a-printed-work-turkey
- distribution-of-periodicals-and-the-duty-to-distribute-turkey
- penalty-for-republishing-without-credit-turkey
- the-sanctions-table-of-turkish-press-law-no-5187
7. The Procedural Provisions
- seizure-confiscation-and-distribution-bans-in-turkey
- press-case-filing-deadline-turkey
- which-court-hears-press-cases-turkey
- the-ban-on-converting-press-fines-into-imprisonment-turkey
- the-procedure-for-notification-in-turkish-press-cases
- can-a-newspaper-be-closed-or-suspended-in-turkey-today
| Issue | Rule | Article |
|---|---|---|
| The period for bringing an action | Daily periodicals and internet news sites: four months; other printed works: six months - a condition of prosecution | Art. 26 |
| The start of the period | Delivery to the prosecutor's office in a printed work; the date of the criminal complaint in an internet news site | Art. 26/2 |
| The competent court | Matters of the assize courts in the assize courts, the others in the criminal courts of first instance | Art. 27 |
| More than one chamber | The court numbered two | Art. 27/2 |
| Character | Deemed urgent matters | Art. 27/3 |
| Notification | The place of management is deemed the place of residence | Art. 29 |
8. Internet News Sites
- how-to-start-an-online-news-site-turkey
- news-website-compliance-checklist-turkey
- is-a-youtube-channel-an-internet-news-site-turkey
Art. 2/m (Added: 7418): a periodical established and operated in order to present written, visual or audio content in the nature of news or comment at certain intervals in the internet environment.
9. The Press Card
- the-additional-articles-of-the-turkish-press-law-and-the-press-card
- types-of-turkish-press-card
- how-to-apply-for-a-turkish-press-card
- can-a-foreign-journalist-get-a-turkish-press-card
- the-provisional-articles-of-the-turkish-press-law-and-compliance-periods
Additional Article 1: the press card is an identity document of an official character. It has five types: post-linked, fixed-term, temporary, free and permanent. Additional Article 5: the Press Card Commission consists of nineteen members; the term of office of the members is two years.
The Constitutional Ground
| Article of the Constitution | Its counterpart in the Law |
|---|---|
| Art. 28/1 - The press is free and may not be censored | Art. 3 - The press is free |
| Arts. 29/1-2 - The prohibition of prior permission; submitting the information and documents is sufficient | Art. 7 - Filing a declaration is sufficient |
| Art. 29/3 - No condition making publication difficult may be imposed | Art. 23 - The duty to distribute |
| Art. 30 - The protection of press equipment | Art. 22 - The offence of obstruction, destruction and damage |
| Art. 32 - The right of correction and reply | Art. 14 - Correction and reply |
| Art. 28/6 - A publication ban only by a judge's decision | Art. 19 repealed - Law No. 6352 |
| Art. 28/8 - Temporary closure in the event of conviction | There is no sanction of closure in the Law |
We cover the detail in the constitutional guide.
Other Main Guides
| Guide | Scope |
|---|---|
| starting-a-media-outlet-in-turkey | The practice-focused question-and-answer guide to the same field |
| legal-limits-of-news-reporting-turkey | Identity, innocence, recordings, accuracy, the right of reply |
| turkish-press-card-guide | Card types, conditions, commission, quotas, cancellation |
| journalist-employment-rights-turkey | The Law No. 5953 regime: contract, wages, leave, notice and severance |
| the-constitutional-basis-of-press-freedom-in-turkey | Arts. 13, 22, 25-32, 41, 90, 133 and 148 of the Constitution |
| rtuk-legislation-law-no-6112-turkey | The 24 broadcasting principles, commercial communication, licensing, sanctions |
| trt-legislation-law-no-2954-turkey | Broadcasting principles, the right of reply, liability, the banderole |
| harmful-publications-and-child-protection-in-turkey | Law No. 1117, the Board, the stamp, sealed sale, reporting on children |
| copyright-data-protection-and-access-to-information-in-turkish-news | Quotation, source attribution, reader data and freedom of information |
| turkish-media-ancillary-legislation-map | Legal deposit, printing houses, elections, service, the levy, transmission, advertising |
| the-turkish-directorate-of-communications-organisation-and-powers | Presidential Decree No. 14, the service units, 19 regional directorates, CIMER |
| working-as-a-foreign-journalist-in-turkey | Work permits, residence, card types, the letter of introduction, customs |