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Decriminalize Incest? Romania Is Not Alone

Bucharest aims to match laws in 3 EU nations

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 21, 2009 3:26 PM CDT

(Newser) – As the Josef Fritzl case echoes across Europe, Romania is considering a new approach to incest: legalizing it, the AP reports. The Justice Ministry is contemplating the move amid wider legal reforms, arguing that decriminalization would sync its stance with EU members France, Spain, and Portugal. “Not everything that is immoral has to be illegal,” said a legal expert.

But opponents, including the Vatican, oppose the move on moral, social, and psychological grounds, noting the increased risk of genetic problems for offspring. One Romanian woman even said she would “castrate” offenders. “Incest is a sin,” conceded one man, "but maybe it's wrong to make it a crime.”

Josef Fritzl was convicted of homicide and other charges Thursday and sentenced to life in a psychiatric prison for holding his daughter captive for 24 years and fathering her seven children.
Josef Fritzl was convicted of homicide and other charges Thursday and sentenced to life in a psychiatric prison for holding his daughter captive for 24 years and fathering her seven children.   (AP Photo/Robert Jaeger, Pool)
In Romania, decriminalizing incest among consenting adults is being considered as part of a wide range of reforms to the country's criminal code.
In Romania, decriminalizing incest among consenting adults is being considered as part of a wide range of reforms to the country's criminal code.   (Shutter Stock)
We cannot help these people by turning them into criminals and punishing them, a Romanian legal expert said of those who commit incest.
"We cannot help these people by turning them into criminals and punishing them," a Romanian legal expert said of those who commit incest.   (Shutterstock)
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Not everything that is immoral has to be illegal. We cannot help these people by turning them into criminals and punishing them. - Valerian Cioclei,
Justice Ministry legal expert

Incest should not be legalized. If they want to have sex, better to say a prayer and remember that God sees them. I would castrate them. - Romanian resident

If brothers and sisters want to have fun, why should they be imprisoned? It is nobody's business what I do in my bedroom. - Romanian resident

The closer the biological relationship between two people, the higher the risk of passing on a recessive condition to their children. - Jess Buxton, spokesman for the British Society of Human Genetics

It generates a confusion of roles. Imagine how can one explain to a child that his father is also his grandfather? - Aurora Liceanu, Romanian psychologist

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
riffran
Mar 22, 2009 12:48 PM CDT
incest illegal?......yes or no?...whatever......incest is just plain wrong, eewwwww yuk
NxBigmouthery
Mar 22, 2009 8:06 AM CDT
As someone not tied to a religious belief, I can still safely say incest is well dodgy. Plus, it seems to be one of the few areas where religion, science and ethics can agree.
riffran
Mar 22, 2009 4:00 AM CDT
i HEAR YA "FREE"....It seems that at least on this subject we are all on the same page more or less...what that slimeball did was as immoral as it was repugnant, and devastating to the victim......

More Newser Stories

Josef Fritzl: I Love My Daughter

'US Fritzl' Charged in Daughter Rape

'Colombia Fritzl' Fathered 11 Kids With Daughter

'Italian Fritzl' and Son Arrested

Remorseful Fritzl: I Want Only the Hardest Punishment


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