Although Turkish laws call for postponement of the arrest of pregnant women, Turkish courts on Monday sent two pregnant women to jail due to their alleged links to the Gülen movement, the Aktif Haber news website reported.
In the western province of Denizli, a woman named Betül Şendir, who is two-and-a-half months pregnant, was sent to jail, while in the western province of İzmir, Emine Büşra İbişoğlu, a teacher who is four months pregnant, was arrested after appearing in court on Monday. The women are accused of membership in a terrorist organization.
The Turkish government accuses the Gülen movement of masterminding a failed coup on July 15, 2016 and labels it a “terrorist organization,” although the movement strongly denies involvement in the coup attempt or any terrorist activity.
Turkish law requires postponement of the arrest of pregnant women until they give birth and the infant reaches the age of six months.
Since the failed coup, Turkey has been conducting a massive witch-hunt against people from all walks of life on charges of “coup involvement.” Many women, immediately after delivery or while pregnant, have been sent to jail due to their alleged links to the Gülen movement. There are currently around 800 children accompanying their mothers in the country’s prisons.
