Turkey passes new juvenile justice law as authorities investigate child abuse and homicide cases

The Turkish Parliament has enacted new legislation updating juvenile justice regulations, including changing legal terminology from "child dragged into crime" to "child in the judicial process." Under the new law, individuals who negligently allow minors to access firearms face prison sentences of one to three years.

Concurrently, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced that specialized investigators uncovered two child deaths in Van and Afyonkarahisar, previously classified as accidents or suicides, were homicides. Separately, an investigation in Balıkesir revealed that a 15-year-old vocational training student was allegedly subjected to months of sexual abuse by an employer who subsequently fled the country.

Sources: Anadolu Ajansı, Bianet, Cumhuriyet, TRT Haber.