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The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, plans to pass the bill before Parliament breaks on April 8 ahead of June elections.<\/p>\nAs the Turkish Parliament prepares to debate a government-sponsored bill to increase the punishments for sex offenders, legal experts are split over the idea of chemically altering the criminals bodies with the goal of deterring them from hurting more people. Those against the punishment say it violates human rights, while those in support say they think it\u2019s not enough. Severe measures will not deter people from committing sexual offenses, says a lawyer.<\/p>\n
The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, plans to pass the bill before Parliament breaks on April 8 ahead of June elections.<\/p>\n
Legal experts have expressed concern over a controversial government-sponsored bill that proposes medical measures to reduce the testosterone levels of convicted sexual offenders.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe human body cannot be used as a tool to punish [an offender] because that is against human rights,\u201d Y\u00fccel Sayman, former chairman of Istanbul Bar Association, told the H\u00fcrriyet Daily News & Economic Review on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The bill, which proposes increased sentences for sexual offenses along with the medical measures \u2013 also known as chemical castration \u2013 was passed Monday by Parliament\u2019s Justice Commission.<\/p>\n
The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, plans to pass the bill before Parliament breaks on April 8 ahead of June elections. Party officials, however, admit that the bill might not be passed until after the general polls due to the legislature\u2019s heavy schedule.<\/p>\n
Under the bill, those convicted of sexually abusing children or having sexual intercourse with minors under the age of 18 will undergo medical measures to chemically reduce their testosterone levels.<\/p>\n
The bill and the controversial article reducing the offenders\u2019 testosterone levels drew varied responses from experts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you apply such measures now, then it means you may apply further measures in the future which would lead to the amputation of the offenders\u2019 hands for stealing,\u201d Sayman said.<\/p>\n
If the victim falls into a vegetative state or dies as a result of sexual attack or abuse, the offenders will be subject to aggravated life sentence, according to the bill.<\/p>\n
For Sayman, however, punitive precautions and severe measures will not sufficiently deter people from committing sexual offenses.<\/p>\n
\u201cProblems can\u2019t be solved via punitive measures only. A committee could be set up to monitor those who engage in sexual offenses on a regular basis,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoreover, sexual offenses also have social and psychological implications. Society usually looks at these people with prejudice. Social and psychological aspects should also be taken into consideration,\u201d Sayman said.<\/p>\n
Professor Ersi Abac\u0131 Kalfo\u011flu, Turkey\u2019s first professor of forensic genetics and founder of the country\u2019s first rape crisis center in Istanbul, said the practice would \u201cfeed the lynch culture\u201d already present in the country.<\/p>\n
The specialist also said if the sentences for rape offenders were too high, it could provoke those who commit such crimes to kill their victims.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe draft law at the Parliament should be pulled back,\u201d she said, arguing that it required feedback from related nongovernmental organizations and experts.<\/p>\n
Kalfo\u011flu, who said it was improper to term the procedure \u201ccastration\u201d since the effect would end with the cessation of treatment, noted that the medical measures could result in a number of side effects, such as enhanced breast tissue growth or bodily hair.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso, this is something that occurs in a person\u2019s brain [not in an organ],\u201d she said, emphasizing the need for psychological treatment alongside any medical treatment. \u201cThis treatment is practiced as a package in other countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bill doesn\u2019t go far enough<\/p>\n
Sociologist Ali Ya\u015far Sar\u0131bay of Uluda\u011f University, however, said the sentences outlined in the bill should be made even heavier.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sexual offenses should be punished with the heaviest penalty. The measures in the bill are not sufficient in this respect. There are those who even rape babies,\u201d Sar\u0131bay told the Daily News.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese types of people can\u2019t be reintegrated into society. Reducing their testosterone levels is not enough. Perhaps, they wouldn\u2019t feel any sexual desire for objects after they are medically treated but they could perhaps make inappropriate comments,\u201d Sar\u0131bay said.<\/p>\n
Raft of increased punishments<\/p>\n
The prison sentence for those who violate one\u2019s personal space with sexual behavior will increase from two to seven years to five to 10 years. If the offense was committed with \u201csudden and interrupted movements\u201d the penalty could be reduced by \u201cone-third.\u201d<\/p>\n
If the sexual offense was committed by inserting an object into the body of an adult, the punishment will be increased from seven to 12 years to 10 and 18 years. But if the offense is committed against a spouse, the investigation and prosecution will be subject to the complaint of the victim.<\/p>\n
Those who sexually abuse a child will serve six to 15 years instead of the current three to eight years, the draft states. But if the sexual offense was committed by inserting an object into the body of a minor, the prison sentence will be raised to 12 to 20 years instead of the current eight to 15 years.<\/p>\n
Those who force a person of legal age into marriage will serve one to three years. If the person who was forced into marriage attempts to commit suicide or the person\u2019s health worsens as a result of the coercion, the sentence will not be less than three years. If the person who was forced into marriage commits suicide, the sentence will not be less than seven years.<\/p>\n
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