Yonca Cingöz

While the number of children in detention in eastern and south-eastern Anatolia is ever on the rise, the draft law for children charged with terrorism has been shelved. Yet, the matter holds a pressing urgency. Lawyer Yılmaz talks about arbitrary detention of children and forged evidence.

Hasan Korkmak received a life sentence for strangling his wife Sati Korkmak because he thought she was cheating on him. For the first time a family involved in an "honour" killing sought help from an organization. Korkmak was not granted mitigation for "unjust provocation".

"Water and Women" was the theme of a meeting organized by the Socialist Feminist Collective. The discussion included topics such as water as a commodification or water shortage and pollution and the effects on women in particular.

In the context of the "democratic initiative" the government has prepared a bill regarding children being prosecuted under charges of "terror crimes". The bill will abrogate equal prosecution standards for children and adults. Children's rights defenders evaluate the bill as insufficient, criticizing that children participating in protest actions can still be adjudged to long sentences.

The Court of Appeals decreed in favour of men who want to annul their marriage because their wives supposedly did not enter the marriage as virgins. Lawyer Akın commends, "This discriminating decision enhances once more a male dominated state and judicial system. It is also problematic regarding the formal procedures".