Discrimination has a fine of 145 Thousand TL

Prof. Dr. Muharrem Kılıç, President of Human Rights and Equality Institution of Turkey (TIHEK), shared important insights on human rights violations and penalties for discrimination as a guest lecturer for the 2024-2025 Opening Lecture at Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Faculty of Law. Prof. Dr. Kılıç stated that individuals and institutions found to discriminate based on factors such as gender, marital status, and religious beliefs could be subject to an administrative fine of 145 thousand TL.

The opening lecture, held in the IUE Conference Hall, was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Dr. Sevilay Uzunallı, the Head of the Public Law Department, Prof. Dr. Veli Özer Özbek, as well as academics and numerous students. TIHEK President Prof. Dr. Kılıç met with students, sharing his knowledge and experiences through his presentation titled “Institutionalization of Human Rights: National Human Rights Institutions.”

EXPLAINED WITH EXAMPLES

Describing TIHEK's Works, Prof. Dr. Kılıç stated that they were working to establish a standard for ending human rights violations based on discrimination. Emphasizing that individuals could submit personal complaints to TIHEK on matters of discrimination, Prof. Dr. Kılıç said, “There are 15 fundamental areas defined by law. If you encounter discriminatory treatment, you can apply to our institution. For instance, let’s say you’ve been accepted to university, and you come to rent an apartment in Balçova. The landlord refuses to rent to you because you are a student or single. Property rights are fundamental, so landlords can choose whom to rent to, but there is a limiting factor here due to specific laws. In this case, marital status is defined in our law, meaning no discrimination can be made against an individual based on their marital status. This constitutes a violation.”

SOCIAL MEDIA CONVERSATIONS CAN BE USED AS EVIDENCE

Stating that discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, or marital status is legally prohibited, and that even social media conversations could serve as evidence in such cases, Prof. Dr. Kılıç said, “Suppose you went to a seafood restaurant, and someone there looked at you and said, ‘You can’t afford this place.’ By submitting a complaint on the basis of wealth-based discrimination and supporting it with corroborative initial evidence, you make your case. WhatsApp messages can also be evidence. This proof is sufficient for us. Again, cases of discrimination related to ethnicity, religion, or gender are also legally prohibited. Situations occur where women are denied employment due to their gender, resulting in a violation. We impose sanctions on institutions responsible for such violations if reported and proven.”

WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW COUNTRIES

Stating that TIHEK has authority to impose monetary penalties, Prof. Dr. Kılıç said, “What makes our institution unique and distinctive is our ability to impose administrative fines on institutions committing violations. According to this year's valuation rate, this amount is 145 thousand TL. The fine amount changes annually. The practice of imposing financial penalties exists in only a few countries worldwide, and we are among them.”

The Dean of IUE Faculty of Law, Prof. Dr. Sevilay Uzunallı, thanked Prof. Dr. Kılıç, the honored guest lecturer, presenting him with a flower and a plaque. Prof. Dr. Uzunallı also said the faculty's committed to connecting students with respected and qualified figures in the field of law.