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Speaking to television station NTV, EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said that the proposal was incompatible with becoming a member of the bloc.
“I cannot understand how a measure like this could be considered at such a time,” said Verheugen. “It can only be a joke.”
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has proposed that adultery be made illegal and subject to charges being laid, but only in the event that a complaint is lodged by the other party in the marriage.
Verheugen said that such a law would give the impression that Turkey was trying to include an Islamic element into its legal system.
The Commissioner, who is winding up a five day fact finding visit to Turkey on Thursday, also said that he had raised the issue during his meetings with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. | |
