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Turkey's recent dalliance with criminalizing adultery seems to have awakened a bit of long-slumbering EU anti-dhimmitude. From the BBC, with thanks to Ali Dashti:
"If this central element of reform, that is the new civil code, is not adopted negotiations cannot start," said a Commission spokesman on Monday.The Commission is due to present a report on 6 October on whether Turkey has met the criteria set by the EU.
A move to criminalise adultery in the penal code has caused much controversy.
Last week Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hit out at the European Union, telling it not to interfere in his country's internal affairs.
He spoke after the European Commission warned that Turkey's bid to join the EU could be complicated by its delay in passing the penal code.
The bill was withdrawn on Thursday because of the adultery row.
Time pressure
EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen summoned the Turkish ambassador on Saturday to ask for clarification from his government on Ankara's position on the code.
But Commission spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori said that as far as he knew Ankara had not yet answered, Reuters news agency reported.
The Turkish bill was intended to bring Ankara's laws closer to those of EU member states and was seen as crucial to its chances of EU entry.
However, the entire package of measures is now subject to review and may not be ready in time for the commission's report on Turkey's progress.
Mr Filori rejected Mr Erdogan's criticism of the EU's position, saying "it is not intereference in Turkish affairs, it is the rule of the game if a country wants to be an EU member".
The clause re-criminalising adultery is part of a package of proposed changes to overhaul Turkey's 78-year-old penal code. The reforms also include:
• Tougher penalties for convicted torturers. Torture in police stations and prisons would be punished with 12 years in jail
• Clauses on genocide, crimes against humanity and people-trafficking - the first time such crimes are mentioned in the Turkish penal code
• Stronger laws against rape and so-called "honour" crimes against women.
Posted by Robert at September 23, 2004 6:29 AM
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While still aspiring EU-membership, Turkey is telling EU to shut up about its "internal affairs". Just wonder what the EU will do if some new Islamist government will go for full Sharia when it already is a member? Asking them nicely to respect the EU constitution? They'll laugh about it. Then what - a war within EU, or just giving up on the Constitution because Muslims don't like it? Admitting Turkey to EU is the beginning of the end of EU. The process must be stopped while it's still possible.
Posted by: Scandie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 23, 2004 10:03 AM
Hmmm. Remember not so long ago when it was the French who told the Poles to shut up about something (think it was Iraq) if they wanted into the EU.
What is more surprising here? That Erdogun doesn't get that the cost of membership in the EU requires a certain level of internal governance as well as economic conduct or that the EU has actually raised a country's penal code (or other human rights-related issues) as an issue over which membership can be denied?
I suppose this is not enough to raise one's hopes that the EU will start looking not only at potential members, but also to non-member companies the EU doles aid out to.
Posted by: waterdragon52 at September 23, 2004 10:48 AM
The Eu is hesitant to put into words its real problem with turkey - islam.
What the Eu ought to demand is that Turkey give up Islam and there'll be no problem joining Europe.
Posted by: voletti at September 23, 2004 2:55 PM
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