Turkey withdraws child rape bill after street protests
from BBC News:
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has withdrawn a bill that pardons men convicted of sex with underage girls if they have married them.
The government acted just before the controversial legislation went to a final vote in parliament, which is dominated by the ruling AK Party.
The bill sparked protests and was met with international condemnation.
Critics said it would legitimise statutory rape and encourage the practice of taking child brides.
UN agencies had called on the government not to approve the bill, arguing that it would damage the country’s ability to combat sexual abuse and child marriage.
The government says the main aim is to exonerate men imprisoned for marrying an underage girl apparently with her or her family’s consent.
Turkey’s legal age of consent is 18 but underage marriage remains widespread.
Related Posts
Tags
Share This
