What is the Crime of Slander?
According to the relevant article of the Turkish Penal Code, the crime of slander is committed if a person slanders someone with or without knowing the truth and with the aim of damaging his/her honor and dignity. In order for the crime of slander to occur;
It is attributed to a person: The slander must be directed to a specific person.
It is contrary to the truth: The situation attributed must not be true.
The purpose of damaging honor and dignity: The purpose of the slanderer must be to damage the honor and dignity of the other person.
Types of Slander Crime
Slander crimes vary according to the way they are committed. Some of these are;
Slander through the press: Slanders made in newspapers, magazines or websites.
Slander made at meetings and demonstrations: Slanders made through speeches made at meetings or demonstrations or written materials.
Slander made by violating the privacy of private life: Spreading false information about a person’s private life.
Legal Problems That May Be Encountered in the Crime of Slander
In the crime of slander, both the person who slanders and the person who is slandered may face various legal problems. These problems include;
Punitive sanctions: The person who commits the crime of slander may be punished with imprisonment or a judicial fine.
Pecuniary and moral compensation cases: The victim of slander may request pecuniary and moral compensation from the person who slandered.
Negative effects on social life: Slander can cause a loss of reputation and psychological problems in the person’s social circle.
Negative effects in business life: Slander can have negative consequences in business life, especially for public officials or people with high professional reputation.
Solutions in the Crime of Slander
You can consider the following solutions to the problems you encounter in the crime of slander:
Hiring a lawyer: You can get information about the legal process by contacting a lawyer and initiate the necessary legal procedures.
Filing a criminal lawsuit: You can file a criminal lawsuit against the person who slandered and demand that he be punished.
Filing a compensation lawsuit: You can file a compensation lawsuit to cover the pecuniary and moral damages you have suffered due to slander.
Request to stop publication: You can take legal action to stop slanderous publications.
