Turkey warned by EU on adultery bill

[Khephra]

Turkey warned by EU on adultery bill
Mon 13 September, 2004 19:41

By Gill Tudor and Hidir Goktas

ANKARA (Reuters) - Barring a last-minute turnaround, Turkey's government will present a law in parliament that would ban adultery and put Ankara on a collision course with the European Union it seeks to join.

But as several EU foreign ministers warned Turkey that the measure could jeopardise its EU hopes, there were suggestions the government might try to defuse the explosive issue by quietly killing the bill off at a later stage.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), a conservative movement with Islamist roots, wants to criminalise adultery alongside penal code amendments that are otherwise aimed mainly at bringing it into line with European norms.

But the idea of jailing people for conduct that in Europe would at most be handled under civil law has outraged Turkish liberals and women's groups and caused rumblings in Brussels.

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=582590§ion=news

[Yuna]

1. Fools to consider bringing Turkey in to the EU

to even THINK about it is foolish.

It would be like making Iran a state and expecting harmony when Iran would be subject to US Federal law.

Until Turkey gets its human rights issues resolved it is not compatible with the EU.

[0007]

2. You mean Turkey is worse than the U.S.?

[RivetJoint]

6. Yes, they are.

[Flagg]

7. 21st century Turkey is no worse than 21st century U.S

Seriously.

Turkey is a secular democracy.

And when was the last time they waged an illegal war based on lies that resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians ?

[RivetJoint]

9. Tell that to the Kurds in Southern Turkey...

[Yuna]

20. Oh is it?

Obviously you have never been there.

Go on a street and declare you are gay. See what happens.

I would suggest you have your will in order before doing so.

If you're female - want to be treated equally? Don't bloody count on it.

[Almost_there]

21. That's a ridiculous statement.

I do assume you meant that very tongue in cheek. Your rights in Turkey as in many Middle Eastern countries are mercurial things, waiting to be taken away by the police or by the populice at anytime, and death isn't uncommon for minor infractions.

Turkey is far and away the best of the ME countries, far better, with rights, secular movies, music, television, etc, but, to compare their human rights with those of the US is laughable. I know the US has major problems, but, at least you can be free to express your opinions and not be fearful of death instantly.

[Voice_of_Europe]

4. Mainly US pressure...

It's mainly the US that puts pressure on Europe to have talks with Turkey to let them join.

Turkey has NEVER been a European country since the time of the crusades a thousand years ago Turkey was the border of Europe.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. So why was the Ottoman Empire known as "the sick man of Europe"?

over 100 years ago?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1150522.stm

[Xithras]

17. Because that wasn't just Turkey

The Ottoman Empire wasn't just Turkey, but included what is now Greece, Ukraine, parts of Russia, Serbia, Blugaria, Romania, etc:


The parts of Europe that were controlled by the Ottomans were considered backwards, and in many ways still lag behind the rest of Europe today. In fact, many of the problems in southern Europe, including the genocidal wars in the former Yugoslavia, can realistically trace their roots back to the twisted attempts at social engineering and colonization practiced by the Ottomans.

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. and the capital of the Ottoman Empire was in Europe

Istanbul.

[aneerkoinos]

13. US pressure

is only counter-productive. We will start negotiations with Turkey despite the insulting US pressure, because it is the right thing to do and good for Europe, Turkey and the world.

[Mizmoon]

8. I disagree ... bringing them in causes them

to share culture and positive experiences and interactions with Europe. We cannot make peace with the Middle East until we have shared cooperative experiences with them.

[cprise]

16. Yeah sure

...the way the US Southeast "shares positive experiences" with the North, as they grow closer.

Or.... not.

[aneerkoinos]

12. I'm not fool

The membership process so far has worked wonders for human rights situation in Turkey. Copenhagen political criteria are clear, and once Commission says that Turkey fullfils them well enough (as well as other candidates at similar phase), it's green light for beginning the actual negotiations. Lot will remain to be done before Turkey becomes full member, but the foolest thing would be to slam the door at Turkey's face after all the progress that's been made. Gladly here in EU we are not fools (well sometimes of course, but not this time :)).

[TeeYiYi]

3. 3 strikes rule? . . .

TYY

[no_hypocrisy]

5. But, what if Turkey goes ahead and doesn't pass the law because it

relied on becoming part of the EU in a real sense. Not a prospect, not a hope, but a promise implied by the EU admonishment.

The government is going to take some heat from its citizens for not passing laws that they want. And Turkey will expect to get something from the EU in exchange for giving up something it values at home.

Wouldn't the EU now feel pressured to admit Turkey? Not just because of this situation, but because of a series of concessions that have been and will be made by the country in order to join?

I think the communique should have been more vague and academic instead of making this law a deal-breaker, and then let Turkey choose whatever it wants.

[aneerkoinos]

14. It's not

It's not a deal breaker one way or another, even if Turkey adopts this law, it is not the end of the negotiations. There are "family values" anti-choise laws in Ireland and Poland, such areas do not clearly fall under EU jurisdiction. But let's hope the EU pressure produces results and Turkey drops this stupid law.

[JerseygirlCT]

11. It's especially odious because we know that the only -m

people who will be penalized under such a law will be the women. Are we back to stoning? Honor killings? Is this where Turkey wants to go?

The EU should make it clear that a country willing to put such laws in place has lost its right to a place in civilized society.

[ze_dscherman]

15. Just breaking: plans for adultery law cancelled

n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. Good catch

link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3654650.stm

The opposition in Turkey says the government has reversed plans to criminalise adultery, removing the proposal from a package of reforms.

The proposed move was part of sweeping changes to Turkey's laws intended to bring them closer to those of European Union member states.

The measure provoked criticism from women's rights groups and officials scrutinising Turkey's bid to join EU.
...
The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Ankara says the decision represents the first time the country has so publicly stepped back from a legal proposal because of EU opposition.