Turkish domestic violence law creates ‘fear of marriage,’ leading psychologist warns parliament

A leading Turkish mental health expert has raised concerns about the unintended consequences of Türkiye’s domestic violence law, citing cases of alleged misuse and warning of a growing reluctance among young people to marry.

In a significant testimony before the Parliamentary Commission on Combating Violence Against Women, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, head of Clinical Psychology at Usküdar University, shared a troubling case that he argues illustrates potential flaws in Law No. 6284 on Protection of Family and Prevention of Violence Against Women.

Turkish judge in severe depression after complaint by female lawyer

“A judge came to my office suffering from severe depression after being suspended from duty,” Tarhan testified.

“The suspension stemmed from a complaint by a female lawyer who, after failing to get her way, accused the judge of harassment. Due to the principle that a woman’s statement is essential evidence, the judge was suspended.” Tarhan emphasized that such cases “have become increasingly common” and argued that “this law needs to be discussed.”

The testimony comes amid concerning demographic shifts in Turkish society. According to recent data, marriages in Türkiye declined from 575,891 in 2022 to 565,435 in 2023, while the crude marriage rate fell to 6.63 per thousand population. Simultaneously, divorce rates have seen a dramatic increase of 54.8%, with 171,881 divorces recorded in 2023.

Particularly alarming, Tarhan noted, is that 38% of divorces occur within the first five years of marriage. He attributes part of this trend to young people’s growing hesitancy toward marriage, which he believes is partially influenced by concerns about Law 6284’s implementation.

“We cannot prevent violence without properly managing divorces and marital problems,” Tarhan said. “Solutions like restraining orders and handcuffs are short-term measures that aren’t working effectively.”

Tükiye maintains lowest rate of births outside marriage in EU

In his analysis, Tarhan presented comparative data showing Türkiye’s relative stability in certain family metrics. The country maintains a low rate of births outside marriage at 2.9%, significantly lower than rates in Northern European countries such as Sweden (54%), Norway (56%), France (59%), and Iceland (69%).

Tarhan advocated for a more balanced approach, suggesting the implementation of family mediation systems similar to those successfully used in commercial disputes. “Mediation has reduced court backlogs by 70-80% in commercial and rental cases,” he stated. “We need to apply this approach to family matters.”

The psychologist also expressed concern about the erosion of what foreign sociologists have termed Türkiye’s “nuclear family confederation” – a unique system where nuclear families operate within a broader family network. This system, according to Tarhan, has historically provided crucial support during personal crises, preventing outcomes like suicide that are more common in Western societies.

“When someone in a Turkish family faces hardship, family leaders step in to help, preventing potential suicides and allowing people to recover,” he explained. “We’re now seeing this beneficial system deteriorate.”

The parliamentary commission’s findings and potential recommendations regarding Law 6284 could have significant implications for how Türkiye balances protecting women from violence while addressing concerns about the law’s implementation and its broader social impacts.