HÜDA PAR, a conservative political party in Türkiye, has introduced a draft bill to the Grand National Assembly (TBMM) aimed at safeguarding traditional family structures and curbing moral degeneration in the country.

The proposal, presented by HÜDA PAR Chairman and Istanbul Deputy Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, alongside deputies Şahzade Demir (Gaziantep), Serkan Ramanlı (Batman), and Faruk Dinç (Mersin), seeks to impose stricter penalties for public indecency and criminalize the promotion of same-sex relationships.

The bill’s justification text underlines that Türkiye faces a growing threat from moral erosion and the spread of perversion, particularly through propaganda promoting same-sex relationships. HÜDA PAR emphasizes the need to protect public chastity, moral integrity, and the nation’s traditional social values to preserve societal order.

The proposed HÜDA PAR bill introduces sweeping changes to Türkiye’s legal framework, targeting public morality and traditional family values. It amends Article 225 of the Turkish Penal Code to impose 2 to 8 years of imprisonment for public sexual intercourse and 1 to 2 years for public indecent behavior or exhibitionism. Additionally, the legislation creates a new offense, criminalizing the “encouraging, promoting, or propagandizing” of same-sex relationships with 3 to 5 years in prison, with penalties increasing by 50% if committed through written, visual, auditory, or digital media. The bill also expands the authority of the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTÜK) by amending the Law on Radio and Television Enterprises, enabling it to ban broadcasts promoting same-sex relationships and enforce compliance.

HÜDA PAR’s leadership has framed the bill as a necessary response to protect Türkiye’s moral fabric. “The objective is to shield public decency, uphold family institutions, and maintain social order,” the bill’s justification states, warning that unchecked moral decline threatens the nation’s cultural values. (ILKHA)