Turkey to examine legal assessment on youth offenses, according to Erdogan
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a review of legislation and the introduction of new measures to combat the rising involvement of minors in crime in Turkey. The announcement comes after a deadly attack by a 16-year-old boy on a police station in western Turkey, which occurred in Izmir.
The attack, which claimed the lives of two officers, has sparked outrage among the Turkish public, and the motive for the crime remains unclear as the perpetrator had no criminal record. Local media reported that the boy had shared posts linked to extremist groups, including ISIL.
In response, President Erdogan has expressed his concern that the perpetrators of recent crimes, including the Izmir attack, are minors. He has called for a review of the current legislation concerning juvenile crime, stating that the issue needs to be addressed before it becomes more acute, guided by Turkish history, culture, and universal legal norms.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç announced earlier this month the introduction of a new draft law that seeks to narrow such reductions for intentional killings committed by those aged 16 and older. The proposed new law, called the "Strafgesetzänderung bei Tötungsdelikten von Kindern ab 16 Jahren" (Penal Code Amendment for Homicide Offenses of Children aged 16 and above), states that no sentence cut will be applied at a judge's discretion for such crimes.
The issue of juvenile crime has been a subject of growing public debate in Turkey, following the fatal stabbing of a Turkish-Italian teenager in Istanbul. President Erdogan has also cited the influence of digital platforms, popular culture, TV series, music, and violent video games in promoting "illicit lifestyles."
To address this issue, the Turkish government aims to work together as a nation to solve the problem of juvenile crime, which concerns peace, security, and the future. The proposal also includes disciplinary prison sentences for parents or guardians who fail to comply with court orders related to child protection.
On the same day that he made his remarks, President Erdogan signed a convention on children's rights in the digital world. The agreement sets responsibilities for families, technology firms, and social media platforms to ensure children's safety online.
Erdogan has accused organized crime networks, terrorist groups, and gangs of deliberately targeting children, and he has expressed his determination to protect the youth of Turkey from such threats. The Turkish government is committed to finding solutions to the problem of juvenile crime and ensuring a safe and secure future for all citizens of the country.
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