ANKARA - Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said on Monday that 40-50 articles of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) draft could be amended.
Cicek, who spoke to A.A correspondent, stated that criticisms regarding contents of the TCK draft were natural.
Cicek said women organizations sent criticisms of the draft to Justice Ministry, stating that, ''I request women organizations to openly point out which articles should be amended.''
Cicek said there was no ''official criticism'' of the European Union (EU) of the draft, noting that they discussed the draft with the jurists in the Council of Europe. Cicek said 40-50 articles of the 502-article draft could be amended.
Cicek said they did not have any haste on legalization of the draft, adding that principle laws like TCK could not be amended in a short time.
Recalling that the draft was under discussion in sub-commission, formed within the body of the Parliamentary Justice Commission, Cicek said the commission would adjust what was criticized, and withdrawal of the draft was not possible.
Parliamentary Justice Commission Chairman Koksal Toptan said they sent the draft to 400 people and institutions to learn their views, noting that only 17 of them replied to this.
Toptan said first of all the language of the TCK draft had to be simplified, adding that, ''we have passed laws to adjust with the EU. However, the draft contradicts with the arrangements, made with the EU, in many aspects.''
Toptan said criticisms of women organizations were rightful, stating that those criticisms would be taken into consideration.
Meanwhile, Parliamentary Human Rights Commission started to exert activities to assess the arrangements in the draft which contradict with human rights.
(AY-BRC) 13.10.2003