In Ankara Women Protest Amendments To Penal Code

ANKARA - Seven women's organizations and members of 80 women's associations throughout Turkey protested on Tuesday in the capital city of Ankara amendments planned to be made in the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).
Turkish women, who convened in Ankara's Kizilay Plaza, marched to the parliament building, asking the legislators to withdraw the article reducing punishment in case of honor killings; ban virginity test and not to consider adultery as a crime.
Speaking on behalf of all women's associations, Ilknur Ustun said that they were protesting violence and discrimination against women in the penal code (TCK), and claimed that the parliament is deceiving public opinion by those amendments (to TCK).
Ustun noted that the draft TCK should be a text prepared by consensus, stated that women's rights were still being violated and efforts continued to legalize violence and discrimination against women.
Pointing out that they did not support this draft, Ustun called on the parliamentarians to keep the promises they made to women before elections.
Later, women opened banners, and shouted slogans in front of the parliament.
(BRC-ULG) 14.09.2004