Legal move over Turkey PM's 'no laughing women' remark

Women’s rights activists and female politicians have filed a legal complaint against Turkey’s deputy prime minister who said last week that women should not laugh aloud in public.

Mon, 04 Aug, 2014 - 18:50

Women’s rights activists and female politicians have filed a legal complaint against Turkey’s deputy prime minister who said last week that women should not laugh aloud in public.

Aylin Nazliaka said the women filed the complaint with court officials in Istanbul, accusing Bulent Arinc of violating charters on gender discrimination and allowing women to become “targets” of possible violence if they laugh in public.

Few expect the complaint to lead to legal action against the politician, but Ms Nazliaka said women are sending Mr Arinc a message that “his discriminatory” statements are not acceptable.

Mr Arinc said not laughing out loud in public is among the requirements of being an honourable woman.

Women in Turkey protested against his comments on social media by sharing photos of themselves laughing with the hashtag, #kahkaha, which means laugh out loud in Turkish.