Türkiye proposes tougher penalties for LGBT propaganda

A draft law prepared in Türkiye proposes tightening legal responsibility related to what authorities describe as LGBT propaganda, introducing significantly harsher penalties and new regulatory measures.

According to Caliber.Az, citing Turkish media reports, the initiative was developed by the Ministry of Justice of Türkiye as part of planned amendments to the country’s Civil and Criminal Codes.

Under the proposed changes, individuals engaged in promoting or propagating the relevant ideology could face prison sentences of up to three years, replacing the current maximum penalty of one year. The draft legislation also предусматривает criminal liability for organising engagement or marriage ceremonies between same-sex couples, with potential prison terms of up to four years.

The bill further introduces stricter requirements for gender transition procedures. Anyone seeking to change their gender would be required to personally apply to a court for authorisation. Applicants would need to be at least 25 years old and unmarried, raising the minimum age threshold from the current requirement of 18.

Separate provisions address unlawful medical interventions. Individuals performing gender-transition operations in violation of legal conditions could face prison sentences ranging from three to seven years, along with judicial fines. If such procedures are carried out on a minor or by a person without proper authorisation, the penalties would be doubled.

In addition, individuals who undergo gender-transition procedures in breach of the law could themselves face prison terms of between one and three years.

According to reports, the authors of the amendments argue that the measures are necessary to protect the institution of the family, safeguard public morality and traditional values, and strengthen resistance to processes described in explanatory materials as “degenderization.”

By Tamilla Hasanova