Turkey in the EU - Legalised barbarism

THE debate about whether Turkey should be admitted to the European Union or not is a hardy annual.

Though Ireland is far from perfect, especially when you consider the level of violence faced by women and the difficulties in securing the protection of the courts, it is unimaginable that a 15-year-old girl could be jailed for eight years for throwing stones at police.

Turkey’s laws allow courts to try juveniles as adults and to jail them for up to 50 years. Official figures revealed that there are 2,622 minors in Turkish prisons.

The figures come comes amid renewed scrutiny of Turkey’s human rights record after it was named as the worst violator of the 47 signatory states to the European convention of human rights.

Turkey is a sovereign state and may legislate as it sees fit. So too is Uganda, where there is a proposal to execute homosexuals.

Turkey and Uganda might legalise barbarism but they cannot be surprised if they find themselves ostracised by the international community.