Turkey’s Justice Minister says ‘good behavior’ sentence reductions need reassessment

Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç addressed public criticisms regarding non-deterrent sentences for violence against women and femicides, stating aspects of the Enforcement Law, such as sentence reduction for good behavior, need to be debated.

Tuesday October 08 2024 01:36 pm

Duvar English

Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç on Oct. 7 responded to criticisms about the justice system’s lax stance against violence against women, especially the sentence reductions offenders receive due to “good behavior.”

Tunç spoke to the press after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)'s central executive committee (MYK) meeting in the capital Ankara.

Tunç commented on proposed changes, saying, "We had suggested that individuals must serve a certain amount of time in prison to qualify for a one-year probationary period. We will continue to propose this. There has also been ongoing public criticism about individuals receiving sentence reductions based on their courtroom attire. Last legislative term, we introduced a regulation stating that attire would no longer be a reason for such reductions, but the criticism persists.”

He added that the ministry would decide whether to continue these reductions in collaboration with criminal law experts, academics, practitioners, and lawmakers. “There is a minimum and maximum sentence range, and judges decide based on the case. However, when good behavior reductions are applied, especially in certain crimes, we face public backlash."

He continued, "This situation requires further review. We need to consult with criminal law experts about whether probation should be applied in certain crimes, such as intentional murder and assault, as these cases have sparked public criticism. We are obligated to consider these criticisms and, most importantly, protect society from crime."

Tunç emphasized the importance of punishment matching the crime, stating, "After sentencing, our prison enforcement system must focus on deterrence as well as rehabilitation. We have significant efforts underway to improve rehabilitation, particularly to ensure that those released from prison do not re-offend. We are committed to expanding educational programs, vocational workshops, and skill development initiatives to aid in this effort."

The government’s lenience in properly punishing violence against women, sexual assault, and femicide is a hot-button issue, especially following Semih Çelik’s brutal murder of two 19-year-old women. The femicides sparked nationwide outrage as masses gathered demanding justice for the victims, and legal provisions that aptly punish offenders.