Right not to be labelled as criminal

Human dignity is at the core of human rights, expressed as the fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals are born with. Human dignity ensures that individuals lead a dignified life and that their honor and dignity are protected. Undoubtedly, leading a dignified life is a fundamental human right. The right not to be labeled as a criminal also serves individuals to lead a dignified life and aims to protect their spiritual existence and reputation in society. The right not to be labeled as a criminal has a particular importance in criminal proceedings. The right not to be labelled as a criminal can also be expressed as an extension of the presumption of innocence, its extended version. In this framework, the presumption of innocence in criminal proceedings prevents individuals from being treated as criminals without a final judgment. In contrast, the right not to be labeled as criminals prevents them from being perceived as criminals in society. Thus, the honor and dignity of individuals are protected both personally and socially. To provide this protection, it is necessary to pay attention to the limit of the right not to be labeled as criminal while using freedoms in criminal proceedings, to observe the balance between rights and to prevent individuals from being slandered in front of society.