ANKARA - Turkish parliament ratified a draft law on Wednesday changing the expressions of ''execution of death sentence'' and ''death sentence'' in laws as ''heavy life imprisonment'' in order to conform to recent constitutional amendments.
The draft law envisaged changes in 46 articles of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and in many other laws in line with the amendments to articles 15, 17 and 87 of the Constitution about the death sentence.
All expressions of ''execution of death sentence'' and ''death sentence'' in laws were changed as ''heavy life imprisonment''.
The draft also envisaged an amendment to the law enabling the General Staff to appoint a member to the Higher Education Board (YOK).
Under the draft, representative of the National Security Council (NSC) will not take place among members of the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) any longer.
Turkish parliament, which signed the Appendix Protocol no: 13 of the European Convention for Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, approved a package of constitutional amendments earlier in the year to adapt Turkey to new democratic initiatives in the world, and to increase fundamental rights and freedoms to the level of universally accepted standards and norms and of the European Union (EU) criteria.
(UK-AÖ) 14.07.2004