From the Bursa 'child pornography' event which has shaken Turkey, a 1,875 million lira ($1,500) fine has emerged - because that's the law. As for the UN Protocol Against Child Pornography, it's been waiting in Parliament for 18 months.
Child pornography, which is given extremely severe penalties in the West, is practically unrestricted in Turkey. In Bursa a teacher was fined 1,875 million lira for this crime, 'because rape and harassment weren't also established'. Because the laws consider child pornography to be within the confines of 'obscenity' and don't count it as a separate crime.
In a new Turkish Penal Code draft law, up to 3 years imprisonment and a fine of 6,000 million lira ($4,500) are on the way. But the fundamental problem is this: for whatever reason, in the last 18 months the TBMM (Turkish Parliament) still hasn't ratified the UN Protocol against Child Prostitution and Pornography, which necessitates being effective in fighting these kinds of crimes.
Ozgen Imamoglu, sentenced for trading in porn, is also accused of rape.
ADNAN KESKIN'S REPORT IS ON PAGE 7
In the civilised world, trade in child pornography is a separate crime. Even those who keep pictures at home receive very severe sentences.
In the USA, someone suspected of trading child pornography on the internet was given a prison sentence of 1,335 years; Another person, in whose house was found material of the same kind, paid $50,000 bail and is being monitored by electronic handcuffs. In Northern Ireland, someone who had pictures in his house was given a 6-month prison sentence.
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