The Turkish Justice and Development party (AKP) seems to be backing down on the criminalisation of adultery agenda. This is a welcome development and, for once, an example of where targeted EU pressure may be effective. It also seems to be the case that external pressure is working in tandem with internal processes for once:

Civil rights groups demonstrated outside parliament as the debate got under way, complaining that other clauses in the penal code discriminated against women or intruded into people?s personal lives…………..Political analysts said the adultery measure may have been forced on him (Erdogan) by arch-conservatives in the AKP and in a small Islamic party that is influential with Muslim opinion but is not represented in parliament. They said it was too early to say what the consequences of the climbdown might be, although it was unlikely to end the debate about whether such legislation was necessary. AKP officials did not return calls seeking comment.

The decision to drop the measure was greeted with relief by Turkish and European officials. ?This proposal was a momentary lapse of reason, which we hope has now passed,? said a Turkish official.

Clearly there is much more to do, but this is a start. As I say: something is something.