Turkey will criminalise adultery

TURKEY'S Islamic-rooted ruling party will press ahead with its plan to criminalise adultery despite earlier statements the controversial measure had been shelved, a party member said yesterday.

The decision came two days after the party said it was abandoning the plan after protests from women's groups and warnings from the European Union that it could jeopardise Turkey's chances of joining.

In revising its proposal, the party has replaced the word "adultery" with "sexual infidelity," a senior member of the ruling party said, speaking on condition of anonymity.