PodcastTurkish government's 'marry-your-rapist' draft law causes uproar on social media
A "marry-your-rapist" draft law prepared by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) caused uproar on social media. According to the bill, the age difference between the victim and the perpetrator shouldn't be more than 15, the perpetrator shouldn't be married and the victim shouldn't file a complaint after the sexual assault in order for the perpetrator to avoid sentence.
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A "marry-your-rapist" draft law prepared by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) caused uproar on social media, with thousands of people slamming the government over thinking of submitting such a bill to parliament.
The bill stipulates allowing men accused of having sex with girls who are at the age of 14 and above to avoid punishment if they marry their victims.
According to the bill, the age difference between the victim and the perpetrator shouldn't be more than 15, the perpetrator shouldn't be married and the victim shouldn't file a complaint after the sexual assault in order for the perpetrator to avoid sentence.
The controversial bill sparked fury on social media late on April 13.
Critics argue the legislation not only legitimizes child marriage and statutory rape but also paves the way for child abuse and sexual exploitation.
Prof. Adem Sözüer from Istanbul University's Faculty of Law said that the draft law "makes girl sexual objects."
Tecavüzcüyle evlendirmeye cezasızlığı geri getirmenin ilk adımı olacak teklif hazırlanmış..
— Adem Sözüer (@AdemSozuer) April 13, 2020
13 yaşta cinsel istismar mağduru kız çocukları,15 yaş büyük istismarcı erkekle evlemesi halinde cezasızlık öngörülüyor
Kız çocukları yine cinsel obje konumuna düşürülüyor.. pic.twitter.com/kThN9A9oRo
A similar bill was presented to the Turkish parliament back in 2016, it had proposed the same for rape cases in which “force, threat or any other restriction on consent” was not used. It was dropped by the ruling AKP government following global outrage.