Anayasa m.41/1’de belirtildiği üzere aile, Türk toplumunun temelidir. Nitekim diğer birçok topluma nazaran Türk toplumunda aile bağlarının daha kuvvetli olduğu söylenebilir. Öyle ki aileyi de içine alacak şekilde esas olarak kan bağına dayalı bir birliktelik olan akrabalık da toplumumuzda önemli bir yere sahiptir. Akrabalık bağına göre ilişkiler çeşitli şekillerde adlandırılmaktadır. Ancak toplumsal yaşamdaki bu adlandırmalar, hukuk alanında farklı şekillerde ele alınabilmektedir. Akrabalık kurumu, genel olarak medeni hukukla ilişkilendirilmektedir. Yine de akrabalıkla ilgili terimlerin hukuk alanları arasında farklı anlama gelebileceği de söylenmelidir. Çalışmamızda, akrabalık kavramını ceza hukuku açısından ele almaktayız. Hatta kapsamı sınırlandırarak, söz konusu terimleri TCK kapsamında incelemekteyiz. Akrabalığa dair terimlerin bir kısmına TCK’de yer verildiği ve bunların da farklı sonuçlara bağlandığı görülebilmektedir. Bu kapsamda failin suçu belirli akrabalarına karşı işlemesi durumunda haksızlık içeriği daha fazla olabilmektedir. Yine akrabasının kendisine karşı suç işlemeyeceğine güvenen mağdur, daha savunmasız ve hazırlıksız olduğundan suç daha kolay bir şekilde işlenebilmektedir. Bu nedenlerden dolayı kanun koyucu, birtakım suçların belirli akrabalara karşı işlenmesini cezayı ağırlaştıran nitelikli hâl olarak düzenlemektedir. Ayrıca suçun temel şeklinin takibi şikâyete tabi ise bu durumda resen takip edilebilmektedir. Buna karşın birtakım suçların akrabalar arasında işlenmesi durumunda failin cezalandırılmasında fayda görmeyen kanun koyucu, failin cezasında indirime gidilmesini hatta ceza verilmemesini öngörebilmektedir. Yine resen takip edilen bir suç ise ayrıca şikâyet koşulunu arayabilmektedir. İşte bunlar gibi TCK’de yer alan akrabalık bağına dair hükümler, çalışmamızda sistematik bir şekilde ele alınmaktadır. Bu kapsamda ilk olarak TCK’de yer alan akrabalık bağına dair terimlerin tanımı yapılmakta, akabinde bu terimler ilgisine göre ceza hukukunun kurumlarına göre ayrı başlıklar altında ele alınarak hükmün uygulanmasına dair açıklamalarda bulunulmaktadır.
As stated in art.41/1 of Constitution, Turkish society is based on the family. Indeed, when compared to many other societies, it can be stated that family ties are more valued in Turkish society. Kinship is an association based mainly on blood ties, including the family and it has an important place in our society. There are various terms within the scope of kinship ties. These terms in social life are handled differently in the field of law. Kinship is generally related to civil law. But the terms related to kinship are also determined differently among the fields of law. In our study, we examine the concept of kinship in terms of penal law. Even more limitedly, we examine the terms of kinship within the scope of Turkish Penal Code numbered 5237 (TPC). It can be seen that some of these are included in TPC and have different consequences. For example, if the perpetrator commits a crime against certain kinship, the unjust content of this crime may be higher. The victim may be more vulnerable and unprepared for the crime because he/she trusts that his/her kinship will not commit a crime against him/her. Therefore, the perpetrator can commit the crime more easily. For these reasons, the legislator regulates the commission of certain crimes against certain kinship relations as aggravated versions that increase the punishment. In addition, if the prosecution of the basic version of the crime is subject to complaint, it can be pursued ex officio. On the other hand, in the event that certain crimes are committed between kinship, the legislator, who does not consider it necessary to punish the perpetrator, regulates that the punishment of the perpetrator is reduced or even not punished. If it is an crime that is pursued ex officio, the complaint condition may be sought. As in these examples, the articles in TPC on kinship are analysed in a systematic manner in our study. In this context, firstly, the terms related to the kinship in TPC are defined. Afterwards, these terms are discussed under separate titles according to the institutions of penal law according to their relevance and explanations on the application of the provision are made with these.
Considering the characteristics of Turkish society, it can be said that family is an important element. As stated in art.41/1 of Constitution, Turkish society is based on the family. In fact, kinship, which is a large association that includes the family, also have an important place in our society. Although there are various definitions of kinship, it can generally be defined as a relationship between people based on blood ties. However, it should be emphasised that kinship relations are not limited to blood ties. As a matter of fact, it is also possible to establish a kinship later. For example, in addition to birth, a kinship can be established through procedures such as marriage.
There is a different name for almost every kinship relations. So much so that some kinships are named in more than one way. In the same kinship, there is a different name when viewed from one of the parties and a different name when viewed from the other side. These names may also be different in the regions of our country. So, there are many names for relationships within the scope of kinship. However, these names in social life are handled differently in the field of law. The terms related to kinship are also determined differently among the fields of law. Kinship is generally related to civil law. Therefore, definitions are made according to the relevant civil law. However, in our study, we examine the concept of kinship in terms of penal law. Even more limitedly, we examine the terms of kinship within the scope of TPC. Although many institutions such as marriage, custody and adoption are regulated in the legislation related to civil law, we would like to state that these relations will not be determined entirely according to the rules of civil law. As a matter of fact, there are significant differences between penal law and civil law. Especially in penal law, which is based on the principle of legality, it is a necessity to clearly define the terms. Due to other principles and rules of penal law, we think that kinship definitions should be made separately. Undoubtedly, the provisions of the legislation on civil law can be utilized in this interpretation activity.
Some of the terms related to kinship are included in TPC. Although used in our society, many terms related to kinship are not included in TPC. Some kinship relations are not mentioned in TPC: The cousin is an example of this. Indeed, the cousin is not included in TPC. At the same time, the cousin relationship is not regulated under other terms. In other words, we can argue that the relationship of kinship is more limited in TPC.
In this study, the terms related to kinship in TPC and the provisions that include them are analyzed. In the first part, the terms that are included in the relationship of kinship in TPC are stated and their definitions are made. Since some terms are used in different ways in TPC, there may be confusion. The verbal and purposive interpretation of some terms may lead to different meanings. Our aim in the first part of our study is to clearly define these terms related to kinship. The terms we deal with are those directly related to kinship. Since the indirect relations related to kinship will expand the scope of our study, we only discuss the terms that cover relatives.
In the second part of our study, we discuss these terms related to kinship within the scope of the relevant provisions. It can be seen that some of these are included in TPC and have different consequences. For example, if the perpetrator commits a crime against certain kinship, the unjust content of this crime may be higher. After determining in which provisions the terms related to kinship are regulated in TPC, we have divided them into headings according to their relevance. Thus, we examine the terms related to kinship within the scope of the relevant penal law institutions. While conducting this examination, we generally evaluate which terms related to kinship are included in terms of the relevant institution, in which articles in TPC, they are included, and the specific issues. In this study, we aim to reach a conclusion on what should be understood from the terms and how they should be interpreted in terms of the relevant institutions by looking at TPC from a general perspective.