Criminal Norms Exempt from Constitutional Review: A Comparative Study of International Treaties Concerning Crime and Punishment

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 13 Sayı: 2, 190 - 223, 29.01.2026

Mustafa Akgün , Harun Muratoğulları

https://doi.org/10.26650/JPLC2025-1688298

https://izlik.org/JA52CH62CL

Öz

This paper investigates whether the enactment, repeal, or amendment of terms concerning crimes or penalties through international treaties aligns with the principle of legality in criminal law, which finds its constitutional basis in Articles 2, 7, 13, 38, and 104 of the Constitution. It is first shown that under Turkish law, international treaty provisions may have direct applicability without the need for a transformation law. Furthermore, while some international treaty provisions relating to criminal law are of a directly applicable nature, others require regulatory action by competent authorities to be implemented. Through a comparative analysis, this paper investigates whether international treaties provide the same level of protection as domestic laws with respect to the principle of legality. It is shown that the legislative power exercises a more limited control over international treaties than over domestic legislation. Furthermore, international treaty terms are not subject to judicial control of constitutionality, which is an exceptional situation among the Council of Europe member states. Hence, the political and judicial control of the constitutionality regime of the laws and international treaties are significantly different. In the concluding part, it is shown that for the principle of legality in criminal law to be effectively upheld in Türkiye, international treaties involving criminal law terms should be subject to a priori and abstract judicial constitutionality review. This argument is supported with references to mechanisms found in the French legal system.

Anahtar Kelimeler

The principle of legality in crime and punishment , International treaties , Constitutionality review

Anayasallık Denetiminden Muaf Tutulan Ceza Normları: Suç ve Cezaya Dair Milletlerarası Andlaşmalar Üzerine Karşılaştırmalı Bir İnceleme

https://izlik.org/JA52CH62CL

Öz

Bu makalede suç ve ceza içeren normların milletlerarası andlaşmalarla konulmasının, kaldırılmasının veya değiş9 tirilmesinin, anayasal temellerini Anayasa’nın 2, 7, 13, 38 ve 104. maddelerinde bulmakta olan suçta ve cezada kanunilik ilkesinin sağladığı güvencelere sahip olup olmadığı meselesi incelenmiştir. İlk olarak, Türk hukukunda milletlerarası andlaşma hükümlerinin ayrıca bir aktarma kanununa ihtiyaç duymaksızın doğrudan uygulanabilir güce sahip olduğu, dahası suç ve cezalara ilişkin bazı milletlerarası andlaşma hükümlerinin doğrudan uygulanabilir yapıda olduğu, diğer bazılarının ise milletlerarası andlaşmada yer alan yükümlülüklerin yerine getirilebilmesi için yetkili otoritelerin düzenlemeler yapmasını gerektirmekte olduğu ortaya konmuştur. Makalede, kanunlar ile millet9 lerarası andlaşmaların temel hakların korunması perspektifinden kanunilik ilkesi bağlamında eşdeğer korumaya sahip olmadığı karşılaştırmalı bir inceleme ile ortaya konmuştur. Milletlerarası andlaşmaların yapımında yasama organının kanunlara kıyasen daha zayıf bir kontrol gücünün olduğu, dahası bu sözleşmelerin yargısal bir anayasallık denetimine de tabi olmadığı ve bu ikincisinin, Avrupa Konseyi üyesi ülkeler arasında istisnai bir durum teşkil ettiği, binaenaleyh, kanunlar ve milletlerarası sözleşmeler arasında ciddi bir anayasallık kontrolü rejimi farkı ortaya çıktığı açıklanmıştır. Makalenin Sonuç ve Değerlendirme kısmında, Türkiye’de suçta ve cezada kanunilik ilkesinin etkin sonuç doğurabilmesinin bir gereği olarak milletlerarası andlaşmaların a priori ve soyut yargısal anayasallık kontrolüne tabi olması gerektiği fikri, Fransız hukuk sisteminde mevcut olan mekanizmalara da referansla ortaya konmuştur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Suçta ve cezada kanunilik ilkesi , Milletlerarası andlaşmalar , Anayasallık incelemesi

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