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Turkey Government Withdraws Proposed Child-Marriage Law

by Associated Press

   ANKARA --

   Turkey's prime minister says his government is withdrawing a proposal
   that critics say would legitimize child marriages and will instead
   submit it for review by a parliamentary committee.

   The proposal, which was scheduled to undergo a final vote on Tuesday
   despite a public outcry, would have deferred sentencing or punishment
   for sexual assault in cases where there was no physical force and where
   the victim and perpetrator were married.

   The age of consent in Turkey is 18, although courts permit civil
   marriages for people as young as 16. Many younger people are married in
   Islamic ceremonies.

   Binali Yildirim told reporters the government would ask an all-party
   commission to review the proposal.

   Critics said the bill would have pardoned statutory rape and reversed
   efforts to combat sexual abuse and child marriages.