Penal code outlaws discrimination

TURKEY: Turkey's planned reform of its penal code would change 346 of the 384 articles in the code Ankara adapted from Mussolini…

TURKEY: Turkey's planned reform of its penal code would change 346 of the 384 articles in the code Ankara adapted from Mussolini's Italy in 1926.

The changes include tough new penalties for genocide, crimes against humanity and torture that would see state employees guilty of torture being jailed for up to 12 years.

Discrimination on the basis of language, race, colour, sex, political opinion or religion could lead to a year in prison and "honour killings" of women by their families would be punishable by life in jail.

The Turkish parliament approved almost half of the reforms before the government withdrew the package because opposition parties would not support a ban on adultery.

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The adultery ban, which has outraged opinion in western Europe, would punish unfaithful spouses with a prison term.

Denis Staunton

Denis Staunton

Denis Staunton is China Correspondent of The Irish Times