ANKARA - Turkish parliament`s justice committee accepted on Friday a bill that would amend Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.
Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said the bill introduced "a technical amendment," rejecting claims that it would quit protecting "Turkish values, state and nation."
Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code criminalizes insulting "Turkishness". Under the amendments proposed by the government, the term "Turkishness" will be replaced by the "Turkish nation," and the term "Republic" will be replaced with "State of the Republic of Turkey."
The committee agreed to make the justice minister responsible to approve any prosecution under the law. The initial proposal by the government sought president`s greenlight for prosecutors before they could press any charges related with the article.
The committee also removed from the amendment bill presidential approval for prosecution under Article 301, which criminalizes insults against "national interests."
The bill lowers the maximum punishment from three to two years, opening the way for the postponement of the prison term of those convicted under 301.
(YMB-SOL)