Turkish judge warns prosecutors against 'female gift of influence' in sexist book

A book prepared by a Court of Cassation judge for prosecutors has raised eyebrows by arguing that women try to "influence" male officers through various tactics while giving their testimonies. Judge Asım Kaya said in his book that women have "a bad memory," that they abuse this trait, and that they try to influence prosecutors through "crying, fainting and loss of consciousness."

Wednesday April 14 2021 04:27 pm

Turkish prosecutors are gathered in an auditorium to receive their assignments in this file photo.

Duvar English

A recent "guide book" for prosecutors prepared by a Court of Cassation rapporteur judge has said that women try to influence male officers through fainting and crying.

Court of Cassation Rapporteur Judge Dr. Asım Kaya's book "Public Prosecutors' Duty of Active Investigation" included a passage about things that prosecutors should "watch out for" while interrogating women.

"First is that women try to influence male officers. This is through the use of women's gift of influence. Second, women play innocent," the book said.

Kaya also said that women have "a bad memory," that they abuse this trait while giving their testimonies, and that they try to influence prosecutors through "crying, fainting and loss of consciousness."

"It is recommended, although not mandatory, that a female officer is put in charge of taking records. This is to avoid any claims that the interrogator violated the law," Kaya said.

After Kaya's book led to a storm of criticism, he released a statement on social media, saying that his references "were mostly based on German law." "Your criticism will be taken into account in the book's second edition," he wrote.

Kaya's book is not the first time a public official was found to express sexist rhetoric, as several government top figures are known to regularly deploy homophobic rhetoric.