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New Turkish Penal Code Drafted
The parliamentary Justice Subcommittee on Thursday approved the draft legislation for the most radical overhaul of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) in nearly 80 years. Under the proposed amendments to the TCK are sweeping changes to the status of women and improving human rights, MSNBC reported. Among the articles dealing with women are those that abolish reduction in sentences for a convicted rapist if his victim marries him after the crime is committed and for the crime of honour killing if the defendant claims he or she was provoked into committing an act of violence in the name of honour. There will also be no reduction of sentence for a woman who kills her illegitimate child. Another contentious issue that will pass into history if the draft law is passed by the parliament is that of forced virginity tests. Under the new law, a woman can only be forced to take a test to prove her virginity if so ordered by a court. The draft is also foresees increased sentences in cases of children abuse and sexual abuse of those under the age of consent. There is also to be an increase in the sentence of public employees found guilty of torture, with the gaol term increased from five to 12 years. If the torture resulted in death the sentence would be life imprisonment. In addition, the notorious article 312 of the TCK, which deals with discrimination between different ethnic and religious groups and which has been broadly interpreted at times, leading to the many freedom of expression cases, is to be narrowed in its meaning. Posted by: TS(vice girl) 2004-05-14 |
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