Gül approves law to release minor offenders

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Women’s rights group have been strongly opposing the changes. DHA photo

Around 15,000 people serving prison sentences nationwide will be released in accordance with a new probation regulation ratified yesterday by President Abdullah Gül, giving way to lesser punishments for domestic violence criminals.

Inmates serving sentences of less than a year and a half will be released following the change, including convicts serving time for domestic violence that have injured, insulted and threatened their wives.

Men sentenced to several years in prison for abusing their partners will now be able to postpone or skip their prison sentences as well. Women’s rights group have been strongly opposing the recent changes, calling on President Gül to veto the law. The regulation will cause lesser punishments to domestic violence cases, according to opponents, which may be followed by a rise in the rate of domestic violence.

The regulation was one of a series of changes ratified by the president on Jan. 31.