07.08.2026 02:00
In the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the first two articles of the bill containing regulations regarding children pushed into crime were accepted. With the bill, while the criminal liability of children is redefined according to their age groups, it is envisaged that age reduction will not be applied in some serious crimes and that imprisonment will be imposed on those who cause children to access weapons.
In the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), the first 2 articles of the 'Bill on the Amendment of the Child Protection Law and Certain Laws', which includes regulations regarding children pushed into crime, were accepted.
PENALTY PERIODS REDETERMINED
According to the accepted articles, a new article is added to the 'Law on Firearms, Knives and Other Tools'. Accordingly, a person who causes a child to obtain a firearm due to storage contrary to the duty of care and attention will be sentenced to imprisonment from 1 year to 3 years, provided that the act does not constitute another offense requiring a heavier penalty.
With the amendment made in the Turkish Penal Code, if a person who has completed the age of 12 but not the age of 15 at the time of committing the act cannot perceive the legal meaning and consequences of the act or if their ability to direct their behavior has not developed sufficiently, they will not have criminal responsibility; however, security measures specific to children will be ordered for these persons. If they have the ability to perceive the legal meaning and consequences of the act they committed and to direct their behavior regarding this act, these persons will be sentenced to imprisonment from 13 years to 18 years if the crime requires aggravated life imprisonment, and from 10 years to 12 years if it requires life imprisonment. Other penalties will be reduced by half, and in this case, the prison sentence to be imposed for each act cannot exceed 9 years.
For persons who have completed the age of 15 but not the age of 18 at the time of committing the act, if the crime requires aggravated life imprisonment, they will be sentenced to imprisonment from 19 years to 27 years, and if it requires life imprisonment, from 15 years to 18 years. Other penalties will be reduced by one-third, and in this case, the prison sentence to be imposed for each act cannot exceed 15 years.
With the motion accepted in the General Assembly, a change was made in the regulation regarding age reduction within the scope of the 'aggravated injury due to its consequence' provision. Accordingly, considering one or more of the weight of the fault based on intent in the specific case, the purpose and motive, the manner of committing the crime, and whether the person was previously sentenced to imprisonment for an intentional crime, age reduction may not be applied to children in the 15-18 age group who commit aggravated injury crimes that cause deliberate killing, or cause the intentionally injured person to enter a disease with no possibility of recovery or a vegetative state, loss of function of one of their senses or organs, loss of speech or reproductive abilities, permanent alteration of their face, miscarriage of a pregnant woman's child, or death.
Additionally, for children in the 12-15 age group, the judge is granted discretionary authority to apply the penalty regime of the upper age group.
With another accepted motion, the 3rd article regarding the reduction of the age exception in the application of recidivism provisions from 18 to 15 within the scope of the 'Recidivism and specially dangerous offenders' provision of the Law was removed from the bill text.
During the discussions on the 4th article of the bill, TBMM Deputy Speaker Tekin Bingöl gave a break to the session. After the break, as the commission did not take its place, Bingöl closed the session to convene at 14:00.
FROM THE DISCUSSIONS
On the other hand, after the discussions on the entire first part of the bill in the General Assembly, TBMM Justice Commission Chair and AK Party Istanbul Deputy Cüneyt Yüksel answered the questions of the deputies and made evaluations.
Yüksel, stating that in the current regulation, one day spent by the convict in the penal institution until completing the age of 15 is considered as 2 days in the calculation of conditional release, said, "The regulation does not increase the penalty imposed by the court; it only changes the calculation method of the conditional release period for a limited number of serious crimes. Thus, it is aimed to ensure that the necessary education, supervision, and rehabilitation activities for the child's reform and reintegration into society are implemented for a sufficient period."
Yüksel, pointing out the importance of the bill, said, "With the introduced regulation, it is aimed to prevent the formation of a perception of impunity in the juvenile justice system and to prevent children from becoming more open to the influence of criminal organizations."
Yüksel emphasized that during AK Party's 25-year rule, many legal and administrative measures have been taken for the development of children's rights and the protection of children, and these have been successfully implemented, stating, "This law bill addresses many dimensions, including deterrence, protection, educational and restorative aspects, that is, guidance measures, and has made a regulation in this way."