'Government Drafts Bill to Reduce Sentences for Sexual Violence Amid Pandemic'

*Rape cannot be legitimized (Photo: Twitter)

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According to a new draft amendment to the law on criminal execution, convicts of sexual and drug offenses will serve two-thirds of the sentence rather than given by the court, rather than three quarters in the current legislation.

The government has recently begun working to reduce the prison population due to the coronavirus pandemic.

If the bill passes in the parliament, many convicts of sexual assault and violence on women will be released from prison.

Attorney Ceren Akkaya from the Mor Çatı Women's Shelter Foundation and attorney Tuba Torun from the Feminicides Platform commented on the bill for bianet.

"Greater danger to women and children than coronavirus"

"For several years, the government has been persistently attempting to make a regulation of pardon and reduction in offenses of sexual assault and especially sexual abuse of children but withdrawing it, or rather putting it on hold, because of intense objections from women's organizations and the public," Akkaya said.

"At the first opportunity, it takes this idea out of its pocket again. This time, it has come up with the same issue with the excuse of the coronavirus. Frankly, we have been on the alert as women's organizations because we know very well that what is being tried to be done.

"We had been reading in the press for days that there would be no suspension of execution or pardon regarding sexual offenses but we learned last night that it was included in the draft package. Although I am not surprised at all, I want to say over and over that we do not accept this. For many women and children, this will create an incredible atmosphere of distrust.

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"The state cannot and must not give children the message of 'I pardon what was done to you, I tolerate it'. While not envisaging a [sentence] reduction or pardon for political arrestees and convicts, it is willing to 'forgive' sexual violence against women and children.

"Many perpetrators of physical or sexual violence will go out on the pretext of security for coronavirus and pose a much greater danger to women's lives than coronavirus. No reductions or pardons should be made for any violent crime, including sexual violence, where sufferers are women and children.

"If this draft becomes law, it will not meet any security needs, rather it will extend the environment of insecurity. We call on all MPs to object to this regulation. There cannot be a pardon for sexual offenses against women and children!"

The government is acting in an "opportunistic" way

"We examined the amendment package. Unfortunately, we are in a huge disappointment. It must be said from the beginning that it is a very masculine package.

"As those in the women's struggle, we have always said, 'There is no excuse for violence! Therefore, there cannot be a pardon for it. While we said that, in its broadest form, sentences of violent crimes, where sufferers are women and children, cannot be reduced, the bill reduces sentences for crimes against sexual immunity.

"This is callousness that will trigger sufferer's trauma. They preferred not to hear our voices at all and ignore all the warnings.

"We said that children, women with children, journalists and political prisoners should be released immediately; there is no regulation about it, not even due to coronavirus. Unfortunately, the government is trying to make these incomplete and dangerous changes with an opportunistic approach amid the pandemic." (EMK/VK)