Women politicians in AKP defend Law no 6284 on Preventing Violence Against Women

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Özlem Zengin, the group deputy chairperson of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) joined minister Derya Yanık in speaking out to defend Law no.6284 on Protecting the Family and Preventing Violence Against Women.

Previously, Derya Yanık, the Minister of Family and Social Services, had stood behind the law when the New Welfare Party (YRP) set abolishing this law as one of the 30 conditions for supporting the People's Alliance in the elections.

"Law number 6284 is one of the most important regulations we have made for the struggle against violence against women. We have continued to work carefully in order to make progress in its implementation since the adoption of the law.

"The existence of law number 6284 is very important, with its content and its spirit. We cannot even accept that its existence is opened to discussion," the minister had said.

There were many who invited Yanık to resign from the ministry on social media after her statements.

Özlem Zengin, the AKP group deputy chairperson, spoke in the parliament yesterday (March 14) and supported Yanık. She also said that law number 6284 was a "red line" for them.

YRP, a political party led by Fatih Erbakan, son of Necmettin Erbakan, the founder of the "National Vision" movement, the Welfare Party, and its predecessors had set changing the provisions of Law no. 6284 and claimed that their request was accepted by AKP.

Zengin spoke in the parliament, responding to the question by the Republican People's Party (CHP) on this issue.

"This is the view of the New Welfare Party. Our minister Derya Yanık has also made an announcement on this issue. Binali Yıldırım also stated that this issue was never discussed in the meeting between the two parties. Law number 6284 is important to us and it is our red line," Zengin said.

What happened?

YRP Vice President Doğan Aydal said on Monday (March 13) that they communicated 30 requests in order to join the People's Alliance, and received a reply saying, "There is no problem with any."

The 15th condition on YRP's list was "that the withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention should be approved in the parliament and that the provisions of Law number 6284 which is a continuation of this convention which harm the integrity of the families should be wed out."

The Council of Europe (CoE) "Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence", also known as the "İstanbul Convention" was opened for signature on May 11 2011 in İstanbul and Turkey was the first country to sign. The convention entered into force on August 1, 2014.

Turkey then announced its unilateral termination of the İstanbul Convention following a presidential decree by President Erdoğan on March 20, 2020.

In the statement of the Presidency Communication Directorate, it was argued that the "Termination decision" was because "the Agreement was legitimizing homosexuality."

Law no. 6284 on Protecting the Family and Preventing Violence Against Women entered into force in 2012. 

Turkey's withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention met with widespread opposition in the country, from women's organizations, LGBTI+ organizations, and most of the opposition parties while the political parties of Islamist tendency predominantly criticized the convention. 

The government circles mainly argued that Law no. 6284 was in place as a national regulation to protect women against violence against women. 

Rights regulated in Law no. 6284

The purpose of Law no. 6284 is to protect and prevent violence against women, children, family members, and individuals, who are subjected to or threatened to be subjected to violence.

Women subjected to violence can request women's shelters from the state. 

Women subjected to or in danger of violence can request temporary protection. 

Women subjected to or in danger of violence can request that the perpetrator be given a restraining order, prevented from approaching her, that her address is kept secret, or that her identity and other information be changed. 

Women can request that an offender should hand his gun over to the police. They may request temporary custodianship, temporary alimony, and a family residence constraint is placed for the house she lives. (AEK/ME/PE)