MP Asks 'Objective of Regulation That Will Pave the Way for Sexual Abuse'

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Meral Danış Beştaş submitted a parliamentary question and a parliamentary inquiry to the Speaker's Office of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) yesterday (January 15) regarding the legislative regulation which she described as "being of the essence of a pardon to the offenders of rape and sexual abuse."

"In the event that this bill is implemented, much more increase in sexual abuse and rape cases and early marriage of girl children will be inevitable" Beştaş said. The MP stated the following reasons for the submission of the parliamentary inquiry that she made:

"Government party gives strong support"

"Unfortunately, conditions of the Convention of the Rights of the Child are not implemented in Turkey.

"A regulation which lifts penal sanctions in case of a marriage between the offenders of rape and sexual abuse and the victims has been made publicly discussed by the government party.

"It is extremely dangerous that this issue is brought to parliament prior to local elections and members of the government party are strongly supporting the regulation which will pave the way for girl children's early marriage."

"Will you side with children or offenders?"

Beştaş asked the following questions, requesting Minister of Family, Labor and Social Services Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk to answer:

• Will the projected legislation be of the essence of a pardon? What will be the scope of the legislation? How many persons are expected to be released?
• Whom do you you consider victims: The offenders or the children who were subjected to sexual abuse?
• Does making the child marry the offender after being subjected to sexual abuse not mean a second punishment for the child?
• When this legislation is enacted, the children will become completely vulnerable to sexual abuse. Will you help protecting the offenders?
• Do you predict that impunity for offenders of the sexual abuse of children will cause uproar in the society?
• What will your stance towards this legislation be? Will you side with children or offenders?

(AÖ/VK)