Taking spouse out to dinner among bizarre sentences handed to those on probation in Turkey

Duvar English

Turkey's probation law has seen a number of bizarre sentences handed, including taking a spouse out to dinner.

Implemented in 2005, Turkey's probation law allows for custom-tailored punishments to be issued to persons charged with misdemeanors.

The name of the law translates directly into English as "supervised liberty" as it allows courts to limit convicts' behavior in unique ways.

Convicts have been banned from social media websites, from watching violent movies and mandated to "stay home and help their spouse with house work."

One man's sentence for repeated injury was turned into being banned from "watching sports competitions outside," while one person who was charged with smuggling immigrants was banned from "approaching the sea."

One person who was charged with intentional injury was later simply banned from attending restaurants, internet cafes and cafes without their spouse.

Some convicts were simply mandated to distribute informative materials about the crimes they were charged with.

One person had to stand outside a school with a banner that read "Driving drunk causes disasters" and another had to distribute pamphlets about driving under the influence at a liquor store.

One man convicted of physically assaulting their wife was "charged" simply with distributing pamphlets that read "I was charged with assaulting my wife, I apologize to my wife and to the public."

Some other "sentences" were being banned from working in construction, socializing with persons who openly drink, attending weddings and entering wedding venues.

Other public service duties issued involved taking a spouse out to dinner, reading to the visually impaired, cleaning streets and planting trees.