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Women
from Diyarbakir, Batman, Van, Mardin, Gaziantep and
Mersin, argue that making adultery a crime would
legitimize honor crimes. They draw attention to how
widespread polygamy is, and say: "Everybody will
become a guard of virtue of each other."
BİA (Istanbul) - Women are angry at
intentions to made "adultery" a crime under the New
Turkish Penal Code (TCK).
Although the Justice and Development Party (AKP)
lawmakers argue that "Anatolian women want adultery
to become a crime," the representatives of women's
groups in the provinces of Diyarbakir, Batman, Van,
Mardin, Gaziantep and Mersin, say such a move would
hurt women.
The women argue that the "state has to respect
people's private lives." They draw attention to how
widespread religious marriages and polygamy are in
Turkey, and the pressure of honor crimes and
traditions on women...
"It would legitimize honor crimes"
Nebahat Akkoc from the Diyarbakir Women's Center (KAMER),
Saadet Becerikli from the Provincial Women's
Platform, Sultan Bayram from the Van Women's
Cooperative, Aycan Basboga from Mardin Kiziltepe KAD-MER,
feminist Nihal Tutunculer from Gaziantep, and Necla
Abide Olcer from Mersin Independent Women's
Association all argue that such a regulation would
not comply with the fundamentals of Turkey.
"Women do not relate adultery with themselves
because the punishment of adultery for women is
death in that region anyway," said Akkoc. After
stating that two women in Batman had been killed by
their husbands in the last two weeks, Becerikli
said: "Making adultery a crime would not prevent
relations out of wedlock. But it would definitely
legitimize honor crimes."
Bayram drew attention to how widespread religious
marriages are in Van. "Making polygamy a crime would
totally ruin the regions' family structure," said
Bayram adding that it would be very difficult to
implement the article on adultery.
Basboga agreed with Bayram. "The honor of the family
is restored only if a woman, whose husband has died,
gets married with her brother-in-law. The women do
not have a chance to live by themselves," said
Basboga.
"The intention shows AKP's attitude toward women,"
said Olcer. "It is also interesting to see AKP and
CHP, who can never get along, agreed on this issue
so easily."
"Who will the state, which has not been able to
promote official weddings, and prevent polygamy,
accuse of adultery?" asked Olcer.
Akkoc: Tradition punishes women even if there
were 40 laws
* Even if there were 40 laws, a women would
be punished in line with traditions if she is
adulterous. And that punishment is always death.
* For women, adultery is a crime committed by
men, and it should be punished. A woman can only
complain about an adulterous husband, if she has a
strong family to support her, and a mechanisms to
protect her.
* Religious marriages and polygamy is
widespread in and around Diyarbakir. What will
happen to a man with three-four wives when adultery
becomes a crime? What will their wives do? Will they
be punished too?
Becerikli: Men will be considered right, women
will be considered guilty
* Making adultery a crime would not prevent
relations out of wedlock in the south east. It would
legitimize honor crimes.
* I find it hard to believe that women asked for
adultery to become a crime. No woman can dare to
file a complaint about her husband. If a married man
has an affair with a single woman, because of the
traditions, the married man will be right, and the
single woman will be viewed as guilty...
Bayram: The law would ruin Van's structure
* The state and the politicians are continuing to be
the guards of virtue. They should respect private
life and people's rights on their own bodies.
* Although it is argued that the law would benefit
women by preventing polygamy, it would be very
difficult to implement the article on adultery.
* Making adultery a crime would make it much easier
to expose women and kill them.
Basboga: The state should set up women's shelters
instead of guarding virtue
* Women would not be able to benefit from the law
even if adultery becomes a crime. Women are scared
to go out on the streets. They cannot get a divorce
although they constantly go through domestic
violence because they don't dare live alone.
Imprisoning a man for adultery would not make his
wife's life easier.
* Religious marriages are viewed as better than
official marriages in the region. The family's honor
is not restored unless the woman, whose husband has
died, marries with her brother-in-law. Women don't
have a chance to live alone anyway.
Tutunculer: The law would make women's lives more
difficult
* Making adultery a crime is an attack against
personal rights, and violates the confidentiality of
private life.
* Even educated women with careers cannot file
complaints about their husbands who bring another
woman home because of the pressure of traditions.
Olcer: The number of guards of women's virtues
will increase
* Who will the state, which has not been able to
promote official marriages in Mersin and prevent
polygamy, accuse of adultery? Will the women, who
accept to be a second wife due to pressure from
their brothers and fathers be accused as well? What
will the wives of a man do if he is imprisoned? Who
will be condemned in this situation? The woman, or
the man?
* With this law, everybody will be the virtue guard
of each other. Will I be considered a potential
criminal if I invite a male friend over when my
husband is not home? Will a neighbor who dislikes me
be able to complain about me when I come home with a
male friend?
* Will men or women in a neighborhood be followed
and accused? Women of course. Because it is thought
that virtue is between women's legs... (BB/EA/)
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