Presence of pregnant women in public is ‘disgraceful,’ says Turkish lawyer [View all]

[Liberal_in_LA]

Turkish lawyer and Sufi thinker Ömer Tuğrul İnançer has sparked a public outcry after telling state television station TRT 1 that it was immoral for pregnant women with huge bellies to reveal themselves in public.

“Announcing pregnancy with a flourish of trumpets is against our civility. [They] should not wander on the streets with such bellies. First of all, it is not aesthetic,” İnançer said. “After seven or eight months of pregnancy, future mothers go out their husbands by car to get some fresh air. And they go out in the evening hours. But now, they are all on television. It’s disgraceful. It is not realism, it is immorality.”

After İnançer’s remarks, the program’s host said, “May God be pleased with you” in response.
Meanwhile, TRT officials said the comments expressed belonged only to İnançer and did not reflect the official view of the channel.

Lawyer stands by remarks

İnançer defended his remarks today, insisting that the appearance of pregnant women was not aesthetic, according to Anadolu Agency.

“You get married and get pregnant. Okay, you did well. [However], this can not be singled out as the reason you are swinging your belly. The image is not aesthetic. I am still saying the same thing. Why don’t you understand?” These are venerable things. And venerable things are kept in a respectful way,” he said.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/pregnant-womens-presence-in-public-is-disgraceful-says-turkish-lawyer-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=51380&NewsCatID=341

Activists have called for a protest on Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue, near Taksim Square, with a pillow under their clothes in solidarity with pregnant women. ''They must stop interfering with women in this country. If they could, they would rule on the very air they breathe'', thundered Aylin Nazliaka, a Social Democrat.

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/politics/2013/07/25/Turkey-pregnant-women-public-immoral-unpleasant-_9075571.html