18 March 2010 / HİDAYET ŞEFKATLİ TUKSAL STAR,
The minister of justice has for some time been visiting political parties, inviting them to reach an agreement on how to solve problems faced by children who fall victim to the Counterterrorism Law (TMK).
However, according to an assessment report prepared by the Callers of Justice for Children (ÇİAÇ), amending three articles of the law is not sufficient to solve the trouble these children find themselves in, though it is certainly a good move to this end. As you may recall, TMK-victimized children are standing trial and may be sentenced to up to 34.5 years in prison. In addition to the arrangements proposed by the government, we will demand that these children not be sentenced on charges of membership in a terrorist organization and of spreading the propaganda of a terrorist organization -- if they cover their faces completely or partially -- and that the act of throwing stones should not be considered an act of aggravated assault on law enforcement officers.
