State Should Stop Being a Guard of Virtue

Although the Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmakers argue that "Anatolian women want adultery to become a crime," the representatives of women's groups in the provinces of Diyarbakir, Batman, Van, Mardin, Gaziantep and Mersin, say such a move would hurt women.

The women argue that the "state has to respect people's private lives." They draw attention to how widespread religious marriages and polygamy are in Turkey, and the pressure of honor crimes and traditions on women...

"It would legitimize honor crimes"

Nebahat Akkoc from the Diyarbakir Women's Center (KAMER), Saadet Becerikli from the Provincial Women's Platform, Sultan Bayram from the Van Women's Cooperative, Aycan Basboga from Mardin Kiziltepe KAD-MER, feminist Nihal Tutunculer from Gaziantep, and Necla Abide Olcer from Mersin Independent Women's Association all argue that such a regulation would not comply with the fundamentals of Turkey.

"Women do not relate adultery with themselves because the punishment of adultery for women is death in that region anyway," said Akkoc. After stating that two women in Batman had been killed by their husbands in the last two weeks, Becerikli said: "Making adultery a crime would not prevent relations out of wedlock. But it would definitely legitimize honor crimes."

Bayram drew attention to how widespread religious marriages are in Van. "Making polygamy a crime would totally ruin the regions' family structure," said Bayram adding that it would be very difficult to implement the article on adultery.

Basboga agreed with Bayram. "The honor of the family is restored only if a woman, whose husband has died, gets married with her brother-in-law. The women do not have a chance to live by themselves," said Basboga.

"The intention shows AKP's attitude toward women," said Olcer. "It is also interesting to see AKP and CHP, who can never get along, agreed on this issue so easily."

"Who will the state, which has not been able to promote official weddings, and prevent polygamy, accuse of adultery?" asked Olcer.

Akkoc: Tradition punishes women even if there were 40 laws

* Even if there were 40 laws, a women would be punished in line with traditions if she is adulterous. And that punishment is always death.

* For women, adultery is a crime committed by men, and it should be punished. A woman can only complain about an adulterous husband, if she has a strong family to support her, and a mechanisms to protect her.

* Religious marriages and polygamy is widespread in and around Diyarbakir. What will happen to a man with three-four wives when adultery becomes a crime? What will their wives do? Will they be punished too?

Becerikli: Men will be considered right, women will be considered guilty

* Making adultery a crime would not prevent relations out of wedlock in the south east. It would legitimize honor crimes.

* I find it hard to believe that women asked for adultery to become a crime. No woman can dare to file a complaint about her husband. If a married man has an affair with a single woman, because of the traditions, the married man will be right, and the single woman will be viewed as guilty...

Bayram: The law would ruin Van's structure

* The state and the politicians are continuing to be the guards of virtue. They should respect private life and people's rights on their own bodies.

* Although it is argued that the law would benefit women by preventing polygamy, it would be very difficult to implement the article on adultery.

* Making adultery a crime would make it much easier to expose women and kill them.

Basboga: The state should set up women's shelters instead of guarding virtue

* Women would not be able to benefit from the law even if adultery becomes a crime. Women are scared to go out on the streets. They cannot get a divorce although they constantly go through domestic violence because they don't dare live alone. Imprisoning a man for adultery would not make his wife's life easier.

* Religious marriages are viewed as better than official marriages in the region. The family's honor is not restored unless the woman, whose husband has died, marries with her brother-in-law. Women don't have a chance to live alone anyway.

Tutunculer: The law would make women's lives more difficult

* Making adultery a crime is an attack against personal rights, and violates the confidentiality of private life.

* Even educated women with careers cannot file complaints about their husbands who bring another woman home because of the pressure of traditions.

Olcer: The number of guards of women's virtues will increase

* Who will the state, which has not been able to promote official marriages in Mersin and prevent polygamy, accuse of adultery? Will the women, who accept to be a second wife due to pressure from their brothers and fathers be accused as well? What will the wives of a man do if he is imprisoned? Who will be condemned in this situation? The woman, or the man?

* With this law, everybody will be the virtue guard of each other. Will I be considered a potential criminal if I invite a male friend over when my husband is not home? Will a neighbor who dislikes me be able to complain about me when I come home with a male friend?

* Will men or women in a neighborhood be followed and accused? Women of course. Because it is thought that virtue is between women's legs... (BB/EA/)