Turkish citizens who refuse the COVID-19 vaccination could be prosecuted and jailed for deliberate negligence if they become infected with the virus and pass it on, said Adem Sözüer, a professor of law at Istanbul University.
Jail sentences could range from five to thirty years, Sözüer said in an interview with Habertürk columnist Muharrem Sarıkaya on Wednesday.
Turkey recorded 5,299 new cases and 37 fatalities of COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to Health Ministry data. The country has fully vaccinated some 16.12 million people and another 20 million have received the first of two required doses, Health Ministry data showed. Turkey has a population of about 84 million.
Due to the widespread deployment of the COVID-19 vaccination in the country, the detection of the people who spread the virus has become easier, Sözüer said.
“By not being vaccinated, a person predicts the possible outcome. If this person gets infected and then spreads it in the crowds, it is a crime. In case of complaint, and he/she can be sentenced,” he said.
Ahval