Social media has produced a new wave of insult and threat cases. Turkish criminal law applies online as it does offline.
Insult defined
Attributing an act or quality that degrades someone's honour. Words, images, gestures, even emojis. Intent to insult is essential.
Threat defined
Threat of physical harm, defamation, or disclosure of secrets. Conditional or implied threats also fall within the offence.
Digital evidence
Time-stamped, link-included screenshots; full saved conversations; witnesses who saw the post; notarial certification (e-imza) to strengthen admissibility.
Penalties
Insult: 3 months to 2 years. Threat: 6 months to 2 years. Aggravated for public insult or against a public official.
Defences
Lawful expression of opinion (political/artistic criticism); prior provocation by the complainant; truth in narrowly defined cases.