Turkey's high court on Wednesday upheld a law that carries potential prison terms for those convicted of spreading disinformation affecting national security, public order and health.
Turkey’s highest court on Wednesday upheld a controversial media law that mandates prison terms for people deemed to be spreading 'disinformation,' rejecting the main opposition party’s request for its annulment. The legislation calls for up to three years in prison for journalists or social media users convicted of spreading information deemed to be 'contrary to the truth' concerning domestic and international security, public order or health.
The main opposition party had petitioned the Constitutional Court seeking its annulment, arguing that the law would be used to further silence government critics by cracking down on social media and independent reporting. The court's justices, however, rejected the request by a majority vote during a meeting on Wednesday, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. It didn't elaborate on the ruling.
Last week, authorities arrested investigative journalist Tolga Sardan under the law, accusing him of engaging in disinformation over his report about allegations of corruption within the judiciary. The journalist, who works for online news website T24, was released days later pending the outcome of a trial, on condition that he reports regularly to authorities. He was also barred from traveling abroad.
Freedom of expression and media freedoms have declined dramatically in Turkey over the years. Reporters Without Borders ranks Turkey 165 out of 180 countries in press freedoms. Currently, 19 journalists or media sector workers are behind bars, according to the Journalists’ Union of Turkey.
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