Change Regulations on Womens Surname

The Union of Istanbul Women's Institutions, (IKKB), called on the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) and lawmakers to remove discrimination against women in the country's surname regulation.

"The surname regulation for women should be amended at the TMBB in accordance with the equal rights principle, without waiting for the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)," said IKKB head Nazan Moroglu.

Moroglu added that the regulation in the Civil Code about the surname of women was against the principle of "equality between married couples," overseen by the Constitution.

Moroglu said that the new Civil Code brought about regulations "in line with the principle of equal rights between married couples," but added the law on "women's surname" violated the principle of equality.

"A new regulation should be put into effect, which allows the married women to choose which surname they want to use and which gives the opportunity to married couples to decide for themselves. But if the married couples do not have a particular preference, the woman can take her husband's surname and should be able to use it with her maiden name if she prefers to," said Moroglu.

Moroglu added that the regulation about "women's surname" in Turkey violated all international agreements Turkey ratified and said it was uncivilized that only women had to change their surnames with marriage and divorce. (BB/EA/NM)