BRUSSELS, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Turkey's plan to outlaw adultery has raised concern in the European Union over whether the move breaks its human rights policy, The Independent said Tuesday.
EU officials confirm the matter was raised with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul by Gunter Verheugen, the EU commissioner for enlargement.
Some EU officials say outlawing adultery could breach article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights, creating a new legal obstacle to beginning membership negotiations.
In Brussels Monday, Martti Ahtisaari, a former president of Finland and chairman of an independent report into Turkish accession, made clear his personal opposition to the proposed adultery law.
"I don't think it is a very wise way of legislating human relations," he said.
Next month, the European Commission will publish its decision on whether Ankara is close enough to EU human rights standards to begin talks on accession. Heads of government will make the final decision in December, based on the commission's recommendations.
