Opposition asks gov’t who will benefit from abuse law

ANKARA

DHA photo

Turkey’s opposition parties have asked the government to explain the main motives of a controversial motion on the sexual abuse of minors, questioning who would benefit from the law. 

“Who has this motion has been submitted for? Our lawmakers will delve into this during talks at the commission and General Assembly,” Republican People’s Party (CHP) head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said Nov. 22.

“I call on all of you to ask this question [to government officials] wherever you are,” he said. 

As well as lawmakers, Kılıçdaroğlu addressed a crowd of representatives from women’s organizations and thanked them for their efforts to create awareness on the draft bill that caused the withdrawal after a strong reaction.  

“I feel proud of Turkey’s women. If the Justice and Development Party [AKP] stepped back; it was thanks to this country’s brave women. Dear women, the future of this country is in your hands,” he said.  

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli also slammed the motion on the sexual abuse of minors and repeated the same question on who might benefit from the draft law. “Who are those sentenced influential persons waiting for the legalization of this motion with excitement and curiosity?” asked Bahçeli.
 
Calling on the AKP to abolish the entire bill, Bahçeli said: “Could a child be a bride? Could a sexual abuser be a victim? Don’t just withdraw this motion from parliament to the commission, revoke it entirely,” he added. 

Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım announced on Nov. 22 that the government would withdraw the controversial motion, which provoked fury as it would have resulted in pardons for some men who assaulted underage girls if they marry their victims. 

The bill, which is part of a 49-article draft amending the code of criminal procedure, was issued in parliament in a night session on Nov. 17 and received a majority of votes from deputies present at the session.


Why don’t you act against FETÖ in politics?

Bahçeli also criticized the government for seemingly not taking any action against Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) members in politics, despite sweeping post-coup attempt measures targeting the public and private sectors.

The political leg of the FETÖ “remains a mystery” Bahçeli said, questioning why the government had not taken steps regarding “prominent figures” of the group. 

“What is the reason for this delay? Is there an intervention that we are not aware of?” he asked. 

The MHP head also questioned when the complete cadre of the “Peace at Home Committee” of coup leaders, which claimed to have taken control of the country on the night of July 15, would be exposed.