Shortened prison sentences will be given to “stone-throwing children” in line with a government-backed bill that was partially approved by Parliament on Wednesday.
Children tried for the offense will no longer be charged with being members of a terrorist organization or making propaganda for terrorists.
Parliament convened Tuesday evening to discuss the first part of the bill on the fight against terrorism, colloquially referred to as the “Stone-Throwing Children Bill” by the public, until the early hours of Wednesday morning. Parliamentary discussions regarding the latter parts of the bill were ongoing as the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review went to press Wednesday.
The law, which is part of the Justice and Development Party, or AKP’s, democratic initiative to address the terrorism problems riddling the country’s southeast, makes important regulations regarding the legal prosecution of minors and is supported by the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP. The bill is also partially supported by the Republican People’s Party, or CHP, but not by the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP.
The legislature, despite moments of significant tension and argument, accepted the elements of the AKP’s proposal, which prevented minors from being charged with being members of a terrorist organization or propagating terrorist propaganda.
Cases trying defendants who had refused to disperse from illegal meetings and protest marches despite warnings will now be heard by the Criminal Court of First Instances and the terms of imprisonment for those found guilty of such charges will be reduced from one and a half years to six months.
Those who attend protests with firearms, explosives, weapons that cut or penetrate, stones, and wooden, plastic or metal rods will now serve six months to three years instead of the previous sentence of two to five years.
The use of explosive and flammable substances and firearms, however, will result in a minimum of a year in prison.
In addition, attempts or plans to smuggle migrants will be handled as if the smuggling actually happened, according to another regulation passed Tuesday. Those who aid illegal immigrants entering and staying in Turkey, or help citizens or foreigners leave the country, will serve three to eight years in prison.
Minister of Justice Sadullah Ergin said, "The terrorist organization [Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK,] does not want the stone-throwing children regulations."
Answering a question regarding the rise in casualties since the government started implementing its democratic initiative, Ergin said terrorism had been on the national political agenda for 30 years.
Some 196 out of 2,460 minors currently in prison are there after being charged with crimes relating to terrorism, said Ergin. "This number could be misleading. There are no statistics regarding ongoing cases."
The minister said a rehabilitation project for these minors had already been prepared and will be announced by the Ministry in October 2010.
Ali Rıza Öztürk of the CHP drew eyebrows by bringing a stone, as a prop, to a speech where he said, "If you accept that participating in a meeting or protest is the same as being a member of a terrorist organization, this shows that you do not have the willpower to solve the problem."
