ANKARA (AP)–Turkey’s government backed off its plan to outlaw adultery after criticism within the European Union (EU) and a march on parliament Tuesday by hundreds of outraged Turkish women.
Government leaders had proposed an adultery ban as part of a major overhaul of the mostly Muslim country’s 78-year-old penal code–which comes as the 25 EU states prepare to decide whether to begin talks on Turkey’s appeal for membership.
Turkey’s leader has argued an adultery law would protect the family and women who have been wronged. But women’s groups counter that such a law would be used against women–who they say could be imprisoned and lose custody of their children. They say the measure would encourage "honor killings."
