Turkey

Turkey regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Turkey's Criminal Code contains a specific penalty enhancement provision. Data are collected by the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Justice, and are not made publicly available.

How hate crime data is collected in Turkey

How hate crime data is collected in Turkey

When a crime is reported, a criminal record is opened. Crimes that contain a bias element are recorded in the same way as other crimes, and there is no specific procedure for recording or investigating hate crimes.

Offences are recorded electronically within the UYAP system (National Judicial Network System). As part of the Official Statistics Programme, data from the UYAP system are compiled annually according to the individuals accused and the offence, in line with the Criminal Code and special laws. The Directorate General for Criminal Records and Statistics of the Ministry of Justice (Directorate) stores hate crime statistics in keeping with the relevant articles of the Criminal Code.

A working group has been formed under the Directorate in order to collect statistics in an accurate and appropriate manner, and to make other necessary changes in hate crime data collection.

Access more information at the Legislation Online website Legislationline TANDIS Access more information at the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Information System (TANDIS) website

OFFICIAL DATA

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
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 2019 Data

    The discrepancy between the number of offences in police and 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 the criminal offences constituting threats and damaging places of worship and cemeteries (Articles 115 and 153 of Turkey’s Criminal Code). Turkey also reported a further 324 cases recorded by police under Article 122 (Hatred and Discrimination), Article 135 (Recording of Personal Data) and Article 216 (Provoking the Public to Hatred, Hostility or Degrading the Public) of Turkey’s Criminal Code, all of which constitute hate speech and discrimination and 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.

National developments

Turkey continued implementing ODIHR's Training against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) programme, following a memorandum of understanding signed in 2016. Several thousand police officers have been trained on hate crimes since then. In 2019, the Turkish National Police co-operated with the Police Academy to deliver the training programme to 603 police officers.

In the framework of the Judicial Reform Strategy, launched on 30 May 2019, a working group examined international reports and recommendations by UN Human Rights Mechanisms and the OSCE, as well as good practices from other countries. The working group prepared a document aimed at harmonizing provisions on hate crime with international standards and creating a database of hate crime statistics. Several state authorities and civil society organizations were involved in the process. During a meeting held in December 2019, the working group underscored the need to strengthen efforts to raise awareness of hate crimes. It was also emphasized that a holistic approach should be made to combat hate crimes, and that the upcoming Human Rights Action Plan should include new reforms and regulations regarding hate crimes.

INCIDENTS REPORTED BY OTHER SOURCES

KAOS GL Association and Kantor Center reported only statistical data. This explains the discrepancy between the graphic above and the incidents included below.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2019-03 Attacks against property
Human Rights Association
 Show info
2019-06 Attacks against property
Human Rights Association
 Show info
2019-09 Attacks against property
Human Rights Association
 Show info
2019-05 Violent attacks against people
Human Rights Association
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info
2019-10 Violent attacks against people
Human Rights Association
 Show info
2019-02 Attacks against property
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info
2019-03 Threats
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info
2019-10 Violent attacks against people
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info
2019-08 Violent attacks against people
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info
2019-11 Violent attacks against people
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info
2019-09 Attacks against property
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info
2019-02 Violent attacks against people
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info
2019-06 Attacks against property
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info

Anti-Semitic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2019-02 Attacks against property
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info
2019-03 Attacks against property
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info

Anti-Muslim hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2019-01 Attacks against property
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info
2019-03 Attacks against property
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info
2019-03 Threats
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info
2019-01 Attacks against property
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info
2019-04 Threats
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info
2019-06 Violent attacks against people
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info
2019-10 Threats
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info
2019-11 Attacks against property
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info
2019 Attacks against property
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info

Anti-Christian hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2019-05 Violent attacks against people
Human Rights Association
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info
2019-02 Attacks against property
Freedom of Belief Initiative (Norwegian Helsinki Committee)
 Show info
2019-10 Threats
Holy See
 Show info
2019-07 Violent attacks against people
Holy See
 Show info
2019-09 Threats
Holy See
 Show info

Gender-based hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2019-01 Violent attacks against people
London Legal Group (LLG)
Transgender Europe (TGEU)
 Show info

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2019-01 Violent attacks against people
London Legal Group (LLG)
Transgender Europe (TGEU)
 Show info
2019-05 Violent attacks against people
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info
2019-06 Violent attacks against people
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info
2019-04 Violent attacks against people
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info
2019-06 Violent attacks against people
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info
2019-01 Violent attacks against people
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info
2019-03 Violent attacks against people
London Legal Group (LLG)
 Show info

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

No information is available.

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR observes that Turkey's law enforcement agencies have not recorded the bias motivations of hate crimes.