Turkey
Turkey regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Turkey implemented ODIHR's Training against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) programme following a memorandum of understanding signed in 2016. The government launched a Human Rights Action Plan in 2021, which includes objectives dedicated to addressing hate crime in the country, including providing support to victims.
OFFICIAL DATA
| Year | Hate crimes recorded by police | Prosecuted | Sentenced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87 | 210 | 374 |
| 2020 | 70 | 213 | 258 |
| 2019 | 79 | 248 | 319 |
| 2018 | - | 1983 | 589 |
| 2017 | 13 | 1967 | 500 |
| 2016 | 14 | 1455 | 290 |
| 2015 | Not available | 810 | 272 |
| 2014 | Not available | 658 | 202 |
| 2013 | Not available | 535 | 334 |
| 2012 | Not available | 497 | 158 |
| 2011 | Not available | 628 | 17 |
| 2010 | 6 | 330 | 297 |
| 2009 | 3 | 250 | 242 |
About 2021 Data
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The discrepancy between the number of offences reported by police compared to prosecutorial records is due to the fact that most crimes are registered by prosecutors, and not by the police. It should also be noted that the numbers in this table relate only to criminal offences constituting threats and damage to places of worship and cemeteries (Articles 115 and 153 of the Criminal Code). Turkey has also reported a further 619 cases of discrimination and hate speech offences (including incitement to hatred) recorded by police (Articles 122, 135 and 216 of Turkey’s Criminal Code), which fall outside of the OSCE's definition of hate crime.
Hate crime recorded by police
The breakdown below consists of police records related to the offences of "Prevention of the Exercise of Freedom of Belief, Thought and Conviction", and "Damaging Places of Worship and Cemeteries" (Articles 115 and 153 of Turkey’s Criminal Code). The offences of "Hatred and Discrimination", "Recording of Personal Data", and "Provoking the Public to Hatred, Hostility or Degrading the Public" (Articles 122, 135 and 216 of the Criminal Code of Turkey) were not included since they fall outside of the OSCE's definition of hate crime.
KEY OBSERVATION
ODIHR recognizes Turkey’s efforts to improve mechanisms to record and collect data on hate crimes through the National Human Rights Action Plan. Turkey is encouraged to continue these endeavours since, based on available information, ODIHR observes that law enforcement agencies have not recorded the bias motivations of hate crimes. In addition, ODIHR observes that Turkey would benefit from reviewing the existing legal framework in order to ensure that bias motivations can be effectively acknowledged and appropriate penalties imposed on the perpetrators.
ODIHR recalls that in Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, OSCE participating States committed to promptly investigating hate crimes and ensuring that the motives of those convicted of hate crimes are acknowledged. To that end, law enforcement must first record the bias motivations of hate crimes. Participating States also committed to enacting specific, tailored legislation to combat hate crimes, providing for effective penalties that take into account the gravity of such crimes. ODIHR stands ready to support Turkey in meeting the relevant commitments through its comprehensive resources and tailored assistance in the area of hate crime recording and data collection, as well as further resources and tailored legislative advice.
INCIDENTS REPORTED BY OTHER SOURCES
Racist and xenophobic hate crime
| Date | Type of incident | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-07 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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| 2021 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-08 | Attacks against property | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-09 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
Human Rights Association
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| 2021 | Attacks against property | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-09 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-10 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-03 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-11 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
London Legal Group (LLG)
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| 2021-08 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
London Legal Group (LLG)
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| 2021-03 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
London Legal Group (LLG)
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| 2021-09 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-05 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
London Legal Group (LLG)
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Show info |
| 2021-07 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
London Legal Group (LLG)
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| 2021-04 | Violent attacks against people | London Legal Group (LLG)
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| 2021-12 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
London Legal Group (LLG)
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| 2021-04 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-06 | Violent attacks against people | Transgender Europe (TGEU)
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Show info |
| 2021-07 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-07 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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| 2021-07 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
London Legal Group (LLG)
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| 2021-08 | Threats | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-04 | Violent attacks against people | London Legal Group (LLG)
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Show info |
| 2021-11 | Violent attacks against people | London Legal Group (LLG)
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Show info |
| 2021-06 | Violent attacks against people | London Legal Group (LLG)
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Show info |
| 2021-03 | Violent attacks against people | London Legal Group (LLG)
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| 2021-04 | Violent attacks against people | London Legal Group (LLG)
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| 2021-01 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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| 2021-07 | Threats | Human Rights Association
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| 2021-07 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
London Legal Group (LLG)
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| 2021-08 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-08 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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| 2021-05 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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| 2021-09 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-07 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Anti-Semitic hate crime
| Date | Type of incident | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-02 | Attacks against property | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-03 | Attacks against property | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-05 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021 | Attacks against property | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
Anti-Muslim hate crime
| Date | Type of incident | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-01 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-06 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-08 | Attacks against property | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-09 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-04 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-06 | Violent attacks against people | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-07 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-08 | Attacks against property | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-08 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-10 | Violent attacks against people | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
Anti-Christian hate crime
| Date | Type of incident | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12 | Attacks against property | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-05 | Attacks against property | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
OIDAC
OSCE Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights
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| 2021-07 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-07 | Attacks against property | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
OIDAC
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Show info |
| 2021-08 | Attacks against property | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021 | Attacks against property | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021 | Threats | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021 | Attacks against property | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-12 | Attacks against property | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
| 2021-01 | Attacks against property | OIDAC
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Other hate crime based on religion or belief
| Date | Type of incident | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-10 | Violent attacks against people | Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
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Show info |
Disability hate crime
| Date | Type of incident | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-03 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
Gender-based hate crime
| Date | Type of incident | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-07 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
Anti-LGBTI hate crime
| Date | Type of incident | Source | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-03 | Violent attacks against people | Transgender Europe (TGEU)
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Show info |
| 2021-06 | Violent attacks against people | Transgender Europe (TGEU)
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Show info |
| 2021-09 | Violent attacks against people | Transgender Europe (TGEU)
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Show info |
| 2021-03 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-03 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-07 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-09 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-11 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |
| 2021-11 | Violent attacks against people | Human Rights Association
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Show info |