Turkey Moves to Cut Use of Death Penalty
The government will drop the death penalty for 13 offenses, reduce the time that suspects can be held and allow them to see defense lawyers at any time under changes approved by Turkey’s Cabinet.
The penal code overhaul, announced Thursday by Justice Minister Oltan Sungurlu, is intended to improve Turkey’s human rights image as part of a drive for full European Community membership.
The legal changes are being sent to Parliament for approval
Under a proposed constitutional amendment, 244 people on death row would be reprieved.
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