‘Amnesty’ for stone-throwing children

The new arrangement reached following a 20-hour session, ensures that children who resist security forces and conduct propaganda, will not be tried for being members of a terrorist organization. According to the newly established regulations, approximately 200 children currently incarcerated will be released and approximately 3,000 cases currently being tried will be dropped. 

Berivan, whom has become the poster child for stone-throwing youths, having been sentenced to seven years and nine months, will also be released in accordance to the new regulations. 

The bill now includes the following rectifications: Those who refuse to disperse despite being issued warnings and resist force will be subject six to three year sentences. Cases will now be tried by the penal court of first instance. According to the previous regulation, such crimes constituted sentences spanning from one and a half years to up to three years. Adults will also be subject to reduced sentences. Those charged for organizing demonstrations and marches will face sentences cut in half, while children that participate in demonstrations and conducting propaganda will no longer be tried as ‘terrorists’ or ‘organization members.’ Those who participate in demonstrations carrying weapons, knives or Molotov cocktails, will be subject to penalization dictated by the Turkish Criminal Code. Due to the sentence for such crimes being a minimum of less then two years, judges will retain the option to postpone sentences, ensuring youths are not imprisoned. No matter what the crime may be, youths under the age of 18 will not be tried in high criminal courts.