According to the draft 11th Justice Package, currently presented to the General Assembly of the Türkiye Parliament (TBMM), the age for gender reassignment will be raised to 25. Those who commit or encourage behavior contrary to their biological sex and general morality will be sentenced to up to 3 years in prison.
The 11th Judicial Package will be presented to the Turkish Grand National Assembly in the coming days. According to the draft, it is expected to change Article 225 of the Turkish Penal Code, titled “Immoral conduct”. With the amendment, “Any person who engages in attitudes and conduct contrary to their innate biological sex and general morality or who publicly encourages, praises or encourages such conduct, shall be punished by imprisonment from one to three years.” It is stated that the article will be added. PRISON FOR UP TO 4 YEARS If a person of the same sex organizes an engagement or marriage ceremony, they will be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 4 years. In the draft it is stated that the regulation will also cover digital platforms. AGE OF SEX CHANGE WILL INCREASE TO 25 According to the package, the age for gender reassignment will be increased from 18 to 25. There will be changes in the conditions for obtaining the necessary report for surgery. Accordingly, people who want to change gender will have to be unmarried. REPORTS WILL BE RECEIVED FOR ONE YEAR The need for gender change in the field of mental health will be recognized in the official report of the medical board of an official research and training hospital as determined by the Ministry of Health. This report will be produced as the result of 4 assessments carried out at least 3 months apart. People who change their gender outside of the conditions prescribed by law will be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 7 years.