07.08.2026 06:50
The first 2 articles of the new regulation regarding children pushed into crime, which has become one of Turkey's bleeding wounds, were accepted in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. The regulation increases the sentences to be given to children in serious crimes, while paving the way for not applying age reductions in some cases and imposing prison sentences on individuals who keep their weapons within children's reach.
The regulation regarding children pushed into crime, one of the issues Turkey has debated most recently and which has come back onto the agenda through street gangs using children and murder incidents, has come to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) General Assembly. While the first 2 articles of the Bill on the Amendment of the Child Protection Law and Certain Laws have been accepted, significant changes have been envisaged, from the criminal responsibility of children to the responsibility of families in the safekeeping of weapons.
FIRST 2 ARTICLES PASSED IN TBMM
Discussions have begun in the TBMM General Assembly on regulations regarding children pushed into crime, which has become one of Turkey's most important problems recently, especially with street gangs using children and murders involving children.
The first 2 articles of the Bill on the Amendment of the Child Protection Law and Certain Laws were accepted in the General Assembly.
PRISON FOR THOSE WHO LET CHILDREN GET HOLD OF THEIR WEAPONS
One of the accepted articles brings an important responsibility for families and weapon owners. A new article is being added to the Law on Firearms, Knives and Other Tools.
Accordingly, a person who, by failing to fulfill their duty of care and diligence in safekeeping their firearm, causes a child to obtain the weapon, will be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison, provided that the act does not constitute another offense requiring a heavier penalty.
CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE 12-15 AGE GROUP
With the amendment made to the Turkish Penal Code, provisions regarding the criminal responsibility of children who have completed the age of 12 but not the age of 15 at the time of committing the offense are also being regulated.
Children who cannot perceive the legal meaning and consequences of their act or whose ability to direct their behavior has not sufficiently developed will not have criminal responsibility. However, security measures specific to children will be applied to these children.
In cases where the child has the ability to perceive the legal meaning and consequences of their act and to direct their behavior, a penalty will be applied.
If the offense requires aggravated life imprisonment, a prison sentence of 13 to 18 years will be imposed; if it requires life imprisonment, a prison sentence of 10 to 12 years will be imposed.
Other penalties will be reduced by half, and the prison sentence for each act cannot exceed 9 years.
PENALTIES INCREASE IN THE 15-18 AGE GROUP
New penalty periods are also envisaged for persons who have completed the age of 15 but not the age of 18 at the time of committing the offense.
If the offense requires aggravated life imprisonment, a prison sentence of 19 to 27 years will be imposed; if it requires life imprisonment, a prison sentence of 15 to 18 years will be imposed.
A one-third reduction will be applied to other penalties. In this case, the prison sentence for each act cannot exceed 15 years.
AGE REDUCTION MAY NOT BE APPLIED FOR SOME SERIOUS CRIMES
With the motion accepted in the General Assembly, a change was also made to the regulation regarding age reduction within the scope of "aggravated injury due to consequence."
The severity of fault based on intent in the incident, purpose and motive, the manner of committing the offense, and whether the child has previously been sentenced to imprisonment for an intentional offense will be taken into account.
Considering one or more of these elements, the age reduction may not be applied for children in the 15-18 age group in cases of intentional killing and aggravated injury causing the victim to enter an incurable disease or a vegetative state.
The regulation also covers aggravated injury offenses resulting in the loss of function of one of the victim's senses or organs, loss of speech or reproductive ability, permanent alteration of the face, miscarriage of a pregnant woman's child, or death.
DISCRETION FOR JUDGES IN THE 12-15 AGE GROUP
The regulation grants judges discretion to apply the penal regime of the upper age group to children in the 12-15 age group.
Thus, the court may apply the penal regime of the upper age group to the child in the 12-15 age group by evaluating the conditions specified in the regulation.
RECIDIVISM REGULATION REMOVED FROM THE BILL
With another motion accepted in the General Assembly, the amendment regarding the "Recidivism and particularly dangerous offenders" provision of the Turkish Penal Code was also removed from the bill.
The 3rd article, which envisaged reducing the age exception in the application of recidivism provisions from 18 to 15, was removed from the bill text.
MEETING ADJOURNED
During the discussions on the 4th article of the bill, TBMM Deputy Speaker Tekin Bingöl adjourned the session. Since the committee did not take its place after the break, Bingöl closed the session to reconvene at 14:00.