Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Sunday that his government is willing to consider proposals to make Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code more precise, acknowledging that the provision's broad language has created difficulties in practice.
Erdoğan made the remarks after meeting leaders of several prominent civil society and business organizations, including the heads of TOBB, Hak-Is, and Turk-Is.
He maintained that comparable laws exist across EU member states and that Article 301 meets European standards, while drawing a distinction between legitimate criticism and the criminal offense of insulting the state. He said a shift in how the law is applied, rather than the law itself, is ultimately needed, and that such a shift takes time.
Erdoğan added that his government is reviewing options for handling the article in ways consistent with ongoing reform efforts and the protection of free expression. He expressed confidence that Türkiye's EU accession process rests on shared foundations, including democracy and the rule of law, strong enough to withstand short-term setbacks.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.