Columnist Prosecuted for Criticizing New Law

A court began trying journalist Ruhat Mengi, who in her articles in the daily “Vatan,” criticized the proposed Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Mengi faces 120 billion Turkish lira (USD 85,000) in damages. She is being tried because she objected to decreased punishment for rape crimes. 44 representatives from various women’s organizations and lawyers joined Mengi  in the first hearing.

According to the daily Vatan, Mengi said she did not mean to insult anyone through her criticisms. “These were said to change the mentality,” said Mengi. “The press needs such things.”

“This is not a healthy mentality. This is a sick mentality. The one who can say such a thing must be mentally sick,” Mengi had written in her article.  Mengi said such opinions were voiced everyday in televisions, newspapers and  in everyday life. “These words do not aim to insult anyone. No name is mentioned anyway. And so there cannot be any insult,” said Mengi. “These  sentences were written to criticize the mentality. The press needs to  strongly condemn such things.”

The articles were titled “A Scandal, not a Proposal,” and “Crimes of Chastity Customs,” and were published in the newspaper on May 15 and 16, 2003. In these articles, Mengi said those who advocated decreased punishment for rapists, “had a sick mentality.”  The two members who had prepared the proposal sued Mengi for damages.

Ruhat Mengi’s lawyers Recep Kose and Tasicer Ilyca, and lawyers Aydeniz Tuzkan, Ayten Agirdemir and Sevda Koksoy Kuey from the Purple Roof Women’s Shelter, said the decreased punishment in rape crimes should be rejected. “Through these proposals, the women are seen as second class. It is impossible to approve such a mentality,” said the lawyers. (EO/BB)