Turkish parliamentary commission abolishes controversial sex abuse bill

Turkish parliamentary commission abolished a controversial motion regarding sex abuse of minors on Wednesday following strong reaction from opposition parties and NGOs, local broadcaster NTV reported.

Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said at a commission meeting that a specific clause in the 48-item regulation did not include amnesty to "even a single rapist."

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), which criticized the proposal as "an amnesty to rapists," welcomed the move to withdraw the bill.

The bill, which proposed to allow pardons for some men who assaulted underage girls if they marry the victims, provoked fury across Turkey recently.

The opposition slammed that it will legitimize child rape and enforce underage marriages.

The government argues that the motion aims to deal with issues caused by the all-too-common custom of child marriage in Turkey.

The bill was issued in the parliament at a night session on Nov. 17, but did not pass since a majority could not be sustained.

Turkish president Erdogan suggested that the problem should be "solved with a wide consensus," urging the government to heed criticisms and suggestions from the entire spectrum of society. Endit