Stoning of Semsiye Alak in the village of Yalim in Turkey

According to several reports in the international press, 35-year-old Semsiye Alak, in the Kurdish village of Yalim in Turkey, was stoned to death by her family after becoming pregnant as a result of being raped by a married man. The woman died seven months after the stoning, alone and abandoned in the hospital, while the man was killed on the spot by her relatives, who “took the law into their own hands.” This horrifying incident is yet another example of the tragic consequences of gender-based discrimination, stemming from religious fanaticism and intolerance. The systematic violation of women’s human rights through the imposition of violent and degrading punishments, which often lead to death, necessitates the immediate adoption of specific measures. In modern Turkey, which is on the path of negotiations for EU membership, “honor” crimes must be addressed politically and eradicated. The Commission is asked whether it will pressure the Turkish government to adopt strict legislation on honor crimes and vigilante justice, to bring the perpetrators to justice, and whether it intends to intervene to protect the human rights of women, so that the degrading treatment of women and the perpetuation of violence and discrimination against them may stop.

Signatures:	Date: 9.7.2003
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