Reporters Without Borders is not satisfied by the bill presented on 7 April by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for the revision of two controversial articles in the criminal code - article 301, which punishes “humiliation of the Turkish identity, the Republic and the institutions and organs of the state,” and article 305, which punishes “any action against major national interests.”
Under the amendments submitted to parliament, “Turkish nation” replaces “Turkish identity” and “Turkish Republic” replaces “Republic,” while the president would henceforth be the only person who could initiate prosecutions based on these articles.
“We reiterate our desire to see article 301 repealed,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The amendments proposed by the Justice and Development Party still leave too much scope for misuse of these articles and for prosecutions against the news media.”
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