President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan revealed more details about a new bill the Justice Department is preparing as it pledges to end clemency for authors of abuse and domestic violence against women.
Addressing a event organized by the Women and Democracy Association (KADEM) held in Istanbul on On Friday, Erdoğan announced a reform package was ready and going soon to be sent to parliament for approval. He pointed out that new the regulations would prevent the perpetrators’ sentences from being reduced on land of “good behaviorin legal proceedings. “Perpetrators will not receive a reduction if they do not sincerely regret their actions,” the president said.
Domestic violence and femicide are two issues plaguing the country and lenient sentences for authors often draw public outcry. Although the laws stipulate severe prison terms for authors of assaults and homicides, the courts sometimes pronounce down reduced terms if the defendants present “good conduct”, namely claiming remorse and “behaving well” during the hearings.
Erdoğan said they had already enacted an exemplary law to combat violence against women and supported women against violence. “We took a myriad of measures for the protection of women exposed to violence or with the potential of exposure to violence, the opening of shelters for to settle up monitoring centres, providing psychiatric care and financial support victims and impose restraining orders for authors,” he said. He noted more more than one million citizens have benefited from the Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers (ŞÖNİM).
He acknowledged that Turkey was far behind the most European countries in terms of fight against domestic violence and feminicides, but added that their work would not be “over” until the crimes were completely eradicated.
“With new regulations, the perpetrators will not benefit from any reduced sentence. Dressed in a costume and a tie at the hearings, crossing their hands in forward and bowing head and similar acts will not be the basis for a discount in Sentences. If the defendants are convicted of voluntary homicide, injury and torture, their sentences will be increased,” Erdoğan said. He pointed out that the minimum sentence for threatening onepartner of with violence, no matter of marital status, would go from six at nine months.
“Acts of All shapes of harassment (physical or through means of communication) will be criminalized, with prison terms between six months to two years and in certain cases, defendants will be expelled in keep. New regulations will also facilitate the arrest of authors involved in the deliberation injury of their spouses. Bars will be allowed to provide lawyers free of charge of charge if female victims request it,” Erdoğan also noted.
