Erdogan comes up with strong statements of adultery: Here's what's gonna happen.

Turkey's President Recep Tayip Erdogan has called on his country to consider illegal adultery and said abandoning the proposal to declare illegal treason in 2004 was a big mistake, writes the British newspaper “The Independent”.

“I think it is the right time to discuss the issue of adultery as our society is in a different position in terms of moral values” told reporters after a speech to parliament in Ankara.

This is a very old issue and must be discussed. It was in our legal proposals in 2004, but at that time we took a step in line with EU requirements, and made a big mistake” added Turkey's leader.

Turkey abandoned efforts to criminalise adultery as part of its programme towards meeting EU membership criteria, which included major changes in the country's penal code, including expanding individual freedoms.

However, the Turkish president now regrets all “process” of respecting European Union requirements.

I have to say that in the EU process we made a mistake. We must now assess the preparation of legislation about adultery and perhaps consider it alongside the issue of harassment and other questions”, Erdogan said in Ankara.

Criminalising adultery has been a subject of debate in Turkey for many decades. Turkey's Constitutional Court amended the previous law of treason in 1996, declaring it penalising women more than men.