The following is a list of ten questions that will enlighten the details of Turkey's new law on violence against women:
WHO WILL BENEFIT?: Women, children and family members who have been subjected to violence or are at risk.
WHAT DOES 'VIOLENCE' ENTAIL?: Abuse or suffering as a result of any physical, sexual, psychological or economical action will from here on out be defined as 'violence'.
WHERE CAN VICTIMS SEEK HELP?: For help, victims of violence may contact the closest police station, the ALO 183 helpline as well as any 'Violence Prevention and Tracking Center' which will be set up in provinces throughout the country and will operate 24 hours, seven days a week.
WHO WILL DECIDE WHO NEEDS PROTECTION?: Local authorities and judges will decide who is eligible for protection services. Local authorities will provide shelter; consulting services and the state will offer childcare. Judges will be able to decide whether the victim should be relocated and given a new identity.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMITTING VIOLENCE?: Based on a judge ruling, perpetrators may be legally restrained from coming near the victim's place of work, home or school. They will have to be escorted while seeing their children. They may be forced to receive psychological treatment. If they carry a weapon, they may be made to hand it over. If they are employed they may be required to pay temporary alimony.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY VIOLATE THESE CONDITIONS?: Should the perpetrator not follow the conditions applied to them, they may be held in custody anywhere from three to ten days. If the perpetrator violates the ruling against them a second time, they may then be held for up to six months.
WHAT WILL STATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT INCLUDE?: Victims will be offered one thirtieth the amount of minimum wage daily. If the individual under protection has to care for additional people (for example their children) they will be given an additional 20 percent of the aforementioned figure for every individual they are responsible for.
HOW WILL MEDICAL EXPENSES BE COMPENSATED FOR?: Rehabilitation costs and medical expenses will be covered by the state for individuals that do not have General Health Insurance.
HOW WILL VICTIMS BE TRACKED?: The Violence Prevention and Tracking centers will be in charge of coordinating this duty.
HOW WILL A MENTAL TRASNFORMATION BE INSTILLED IN SOCIETY?: The subject of 'male and female equality' will be added to elementary school curriculum. In addition, the Ministry will broadcast public television messages totaling 90 minutes a month. All public establishment employees will undergo training on women and human rights and male and female equality.
“The messages have been received,” stated President Gül, who also called for an end to the street demonstrations. The president also delivered a message to Alevi citizens who are objecting to the name given to the Third Bosporus Bridge by stating, “We could name another big project after Pir Sultan Abdal.”
Finance Minister Şimşek commented on allegations reported in The Guardian that he was monitored by U.K. intelligence, by stating that Foreign Ministry officials are taking the necessary measures.
While England is rattled by the censorship scandal in the national press, AK Party Spokesman and Deputy Chairman Hüseyin Çelik has announced that there will be no censorship on social media or classic media as Turkey, which now has a mature democracy, has left such issues long in the past.
AK Party Istanbul Deputy Bülent Turan has filed a criminal complaint with the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor against CHP Tunceli Deputy Hüseyin Aygün for “insults in the virtual realm and for inspiring public hatred, enmity and degradation.”
The ‘innocent’ protest which began at the start of the month in Brazil, as it did as well in Turkey, has since transitioned into a point of interest for its dark demonstrations. Both nations, as they suffer from simultaneous protests, stand out for having bright and promising economies.
Prime Minister Erdoğan stated on Tuesday that the Gezi protests are part of a professionally organized operation and vowed to hold those behind the events accountable by law. The Prime Minister also said that the police in Turkey have passed the test of democracy.
Responding to the European Parliament resolution condemning the police crackdown on protests sparked by redevelopment plans for Gezi Park, Prime Minister Erdoğan stated “They are confused. They have no fidelity,” and added that European politicians and institutions instantly laid down their masks in order to provoke events.
One man’s passive defiance by way of standing in place in Taksim Square and looking straight at the Atatürk Culture Center, quickly turned into a social media phenomenon last night.
Infuriating Germans, Green Party Co-Chair Roth was subjected to pepper spray in Istanbul. Commenting on the incident, German nationals say, “It turns out Erdoğan was right in saying that there are foreign forces triggering Taksim, and Roth’s presence is now proof.” Other comments include, “If Abdullah Gül showed up at Occupy Frankfurt of if Erdoğan was involved in the Stuttgart 21 demonstrations, the ground would shake!”
The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has been working continuously since last night on clearing and landscaping Taksim Square and Gezi Park.
Explaining that the Gezi Park protests were planned six months ago, EU Minister Bağış states, “These protests are an attempt to trigger a move which will end in regime change in Turkey.” Bağış also discussed Prime Minister Erdoğan’s style with the Wall Street Journal.
They came by land, they came by sea, and they came to hear their Prime Minister speak. Yesterday’s Kazlıçeşme rally in support of Prime Minister Erdoğan saw over a million supporters come out to the square with AK Party and Turkish flags in hand, giving true sentiment to the figures of Erdoğan’s support rate.
Istanbul Governor Mutlu is calling on protesters to refrain from responding to calls on social media to gather in Taksim because he says; peace has been established once again in Istanbul.
Nearly a million Istanbul residents flocked out to see Prime Minister Erdoğan speak at an AK Party rally in Kazlıçeşme on Sunday. Istanbul residents want the vandalism of protesters destroying and setting the city on fire to come to an end as soon as possible. Meanwhile, they also support Erdoğan’s referendum proposal.