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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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Turkey Loses Milestone Gender Case

Domestic violence ruling marks women's rights breakthrough

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(Newser) – Europe’s human rights court has ruled against Turkey in a key gender-discrimination case, holding that the country was too lenient toward a man who attacked his wife and killed his mother-in-law. The case marks the first time the Court of Human Rights has labeled such a case gender discrimination, a move that gives the court a say in domestic violence cases, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Nahide Opuz’s husband had received a 3-month sentence, later lightened to a fine, for trying to run over her and her mother; he was also fined for stabbing Opuz. He was released after a few years from a life sentence for shooting and killing his mother-in-law.  “When it comes to the issue of women's rights, the legal framework is murky," said Opuz’s lawyer. "This trial begins to shed light on that murkiness."

Women in front of their houses outside the historical walls, right, surrounding old city of Diyarbakir, Turkey, where Nahide Opuz was living.
Women in front of their houses outside the historical walls, right, surrounding old city of Diyarbakir, Turkey, where Nahide Opuz was living.   (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
A Turkish woman reads the Quran, right, as others move through the courtyard of the Eyup Sultan mosque in Istanbul, Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, during the last Friday of Ramadan.
A Turkish woman reads the Quran, right, as others move through the courtyard of the Eyup Sultan mosque in Istanbul, Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, during the last Friday of Ramadan.   (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)
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6 comments
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NutsInNY
Jun 10, 09 8:12 AM CDT
Remind me, what religion do they follow in Turkey? And does this violate their holy book? Reply
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Nwambe
Jun 10, 09 12:09 PM CDT
Hey, what religion do they follow in the U.S.? Does the killing of an abortion doctor violate their holy book?
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NutsInNY
Jun 10, 09 12:16 PM CDT
A number of religions; yes.
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Sphinx
Jun 10, 09 9:01 AM CDT
It's a very secular country, but the majority are Muslims. Yes, this violates their holy book, but so does forbidding women who cover their hair from attending universities, so I wouldn't look their for an excuse to anything that goes on in Turkey Reply
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TerrifiedCitizen
Jun 10, 09 9:15 AM CDT
Actually, all holy books direct adherents to show brotherly love to each neighbor; is there one prominent religion on earth that does not have the blood of it's neighbor upon it? This obvious conflict between the holy scriptures and religion is what condemns it in the eyes of its God. Reply
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