Turkish Judiciary Implements Changes in Women’s Rights, Fines, and Prison Sentences
The details of the 8th judicial package, which is soon to be sent to the Turkish Grand National Assembly, have started to emerge. According to the Milliyet newspaper, the package, consisting of 65 articles, envisions changes in 105 articles of 22 different laws.
One of the most significant changes is the right of married women to use their surnames. Currently, women can use two surnames, but as of January 1, 2024, they will have the right not to change their surname after marriage, and instead use only the surname they had before.
Another key change is in the execution of prison penalties. In cases without a sentence, there will now be a prison sentence depending on the execution period. Even if the criminal is sentenced to 1 month in prison, they will have to spend at least 40 percent of their sentence, which is 12 days, in prison. This means that probation will be proportional to the sentence instead of being imposed for 1 year.
Additionally, there will be a new limit in judicial fines. The base limit of prepayment for judicial fines will increase from 30 lira to 100 lira, and the upper limit will be 500 lira. The amount of conversion of a prison sentence into a fine will be determined by multiplying a number between 100 lira and 500 lira by the number of days.
These anticipated changes are likely to have a significant impact on the Turkish legal system. As the package moves through the legislative process, it will be important to closely monitor its developments and the potential implications for Turkish society.
