Landmark Turkish court ruling: Anti-gay language is not freedom of speech

Setting an important legal precedent, Istanbul’s Criminal Court on Monday issued a landmark ruling against a religious Turkish newspaper for its use of anti-gay language, saying it illegally offended LGBT people.

The court also stated that such language is not within the scope of freedom expression or press.

The court ruled that the newspaper be prosecuted for violating Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code, which prohibits insulting social groups.

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