Turkey says probe on girl buried alive underway

Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Jose Mendes Bota, chairman of the Council of Europe's Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men (CDEG) released a statement on February 10 to express their regret over a murder in southeastern Turkey in which a 16-year-old girl was buried alive by her relatives.

In response to a question, Burak Ozugergin, spokesman for the Ministry, said, "Turkish people and the government displayed the same reaction against this heinous killing."

"The criminal investigation into the murder is still continuing. And two members of the family were arrested for their alleged involvement in the killing. The murder will be solved soon and those who are responsible for killing of the young girl, will be brought to justice," he said.

Ozugergin added, Turkey considered "honor killings" as a violation of human rights. Together with the United Kingdom, Turkey submitted a draft to the United Nations General Assembly in 2004 to prevent honor killings. Also, the new penal code which was approved by the Turkish parliament in 2004 and came into force in 2005, included many arrangements about gender equality.

/World Bulletin/