Turkey hits back with '#DontTravelToSweden' Istanbul airport 'travel warning'
The Turkish court said it would change a law punishing anyone who sexually abuses children aged under 15.
Ankara said that cases would be dealt with individually and judges would give harsher punishments to those who abuse infants. A new law would be enacted to protect children, they said.
"Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed. Children need more protection, not less, against violence, sex abuse," the .
Turkey's age of consent is 18, and has not been changed by the ruling, but many believe that the decision will pave the way for increased abuse against children.
Wallstrom's comment follows a statement displayed at Vienna International Airport, claiming that Turkey allows sexual intercourse with children under the age of 15. It was quickly taken down after protests from Ankara.
— Breaking News (@NewsfeedTr)
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Disgruntled Turkish twitter users took to social media, saying the claims are false.
— irem (@irem_)
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— Talip Küçükcan (@tkucukcan)
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Istanbul's International Ataturk Airport reportedly hit back at the Swedish minister's remark with a news ticker reading: "Travel Warning! Did you know that Sweden has the highest rape rate worldwide?"
— Joseph Willits (@josephwillits)
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It prompted further "travel warnings" on Twitter with #DontTravelToSweden became a top trending hashtag in Turkey.
— hulofera (@hulofera)
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— Seda (@seda_tun) " style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post
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— Engin Özdemir (@EnginGS54)
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"It is alarming that the slander campaign that started in Austria - the capital of racism and Islamophobia - is spreading into Sweden which is actually more sensitive on human rights," he said.