Constitutional Court to review CHP's request to annul prison sentence for 'publicly disseminating misleading information'

The CHP had applied to the Constitutional Court with a request for the annulment and stay of execution of the article added to the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) through the Law on Amendments to the Press Law and Certain Other Laws, known as the regulation for combating disinformation.

The Constitutional Court will address the annulment request in its General Assembly agenda on Wednesday, November 8. The request for a stay of execution of the regulation will also be discussed during the substantive review phase.

1 TO 3 YEARS IMPRISONMENT PRESCRIBED

With Article 29 of Law No. 7418 on Amendments to the Press Law and Certain Other Laws, publicly known as the regulation for combating disinformation, an addition was made to Article 217/A of the TCK, establishing the crime of "publicly disseminating misleading information" and prescribing a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years for those who commit this crime.

Article 217/A added to the TCK reads as follows:

"Publicly disseminating misleading information: (1) Any person who publicly disseminates information contrary to the truth regarding the internal and external security, public order, and general health of the country, with the sole intent of creating anxiety, fear, or panic among the public, in a manner capable of disturbing public peace, shall be sentenced to imprisonment from one to three years. (2) If the perpetrator commits the crime by concealing their true identity or within the framework of an organization's activities, the sentence imposed according to the first paragraph shall be increased by half."

News Source: 12punto