Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan supports the reintroduction of the death penalty in his country. The background is the death of a woman who was stabbed to death by her ex-husband. The case has sparked nationwide terror in Turkey - not least because a witness filmed the act of violence with his cell phone. In addition to statements of condolence, there was also the demand for the death penalty in the comment columns of social networks. This was abolished 15 years ago in Turkey.
"I say it loud and clear, my party and I are for the reintroduction of the death penalty," said Erdogan, according to Turkish media on Wednesday on the way back from his visit to Moscow. If Parliament votes, he would definitely agree, said the Turkish president. "I believe in the theme of the voice of my conscience."
B. was stabbed to death on 18 August in Kirikkale, a city about 80 kilometers east of Ankara, by her ex-husband. Week, a video of the crime surfaced on the internet and triggered a nationwide debate on violence against women. Even politicians from all camps expressed their dismay over the case. Erdogan expressed his condolences to the victim's father in a personal phone call.
His support for the reintroduction of the death penalty, the President also justified with the suffering of the family. "What about the relatives, what would they do?", Erdogan is quoted by Turkish media.
The reintroduction of the death penalty would not affect the permanent ex-husband of Emine B. The Turkish Constitution prohibits the retroactive application of tougher penalties.
Constitution should be changed
The last execution in Turkey took place in 1984. In the course of EU accession efforts, the death penalty was abolished in 2004. This is stated in Article 38 of the Constitution. The reintroduction of the death penalty would therefore require a constitutional amendment.
This requires a two-thirds majority in parliament. Together with the allied right-wing MHP, which has also voted in favor of the death penalty, Erdogan's AKP currently has insufficient seats in parliament. A 60 percent majority would allow a referendum. Since the coup attempt in 2016, Erdogan has already announced several times that he is thinking about reintroducing the death penalty.
He had promised to hold a referendum after the referendum on the introduction of the presidential system. Before the municipal elections in March, he makes the topic for election campaign theme. He called the abolition of the death penalty at an event in front of his followers as a mistake.
Would finally end EU accession process
However, the opposition vehemently opposes it, also because the move would mean the final break with the West. For example, the EU had already announced in the past that Turkey's accession process would be ended should the death penalty be reintroduced.
Also from the environment of the women's rights movement there is no demand for the death penalty. After the deadly attack on Emine B. activists demand in their protests, the existing laws to protect women finally enforce and revise.
The alleged perpetrator in case B is in custody. The prosecution has charged with murder and demands life imprisonment.