Turkey to Lock Up Kids as Young as 15 for Life Under New Bill
Turkey’s ruling party has proposed a law that would allow courts to sentence children aged 15 to 18 to life or aggravated life imprisonment for certain crimes, sparking fierce debate over juvenile justice.
A new bill submitted to Turkey’s parliament by the ruling AK Party would allow courts to sentence children aged 15 to 18 to life or aggravated life imprisonment for certain crimes [196144]. If passed, the law would also require these minors to begin serving their sentences in closed prisons instead of juvenile education facilities [196144]. The proposal has sparked debate over the treatment of young offenders in the country’s justice system [196144].
Critics argue the measure obscures deeper issues in crime prevention and the prison system. Lawyer Seda Akço said, “Increasing penalties removes the real problem from the agenda” [196133]. Critics warn the move treats symptoms rather than root causes [196133].