Turkey and Sweden in Twitter spat over child sexual abuse law

By Sheena McKenzie, CNN
3 minute read
Published 2:58 PM EDT, Tue August 16, 2016
Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Sweden Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom in May.
Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Sweden Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom in May.
JOHN THYS/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Story highlights

Swedish minister criticizes Turkey's laws on child sex abuse in tweet

Turkey's deputy prime minister hits back, calling tweet "misinformed"

CNN  — 

Turkey has held meetings with officials from both Sweden and Austria after a diplomatic row over child sexual abuse laws.

It follows a Twitter spat between Swedish Foreign Affairs Minister Margot Wallstrom and Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek, with the former accusing Turkey of legalizing sex with children.

“Turkish decision to allow sex with children under 15 must be reversed,” Wallstrom tweeted Sunday. “Children need more protection, not less, against violence, sex abuse.”

The comments prompted a furious reply from Simsek.

“You are clearly misinformed,” he tweeted. “There is no such stupid thing in Turkey. Please get your facts right.”

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since held a meeting with a Swedish Embassy official in Ankara, Hedvig Klara Erika Hogg Lohm, a senior Turkish official who cannot be named due to government protocol told CNN.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry didn’t comment immediately to CNN on Tuesday.

Austria embroiled in spat

Turkey also hit out at Austria after an electronic news ticker at Vienna International Airport reportedly displayed a Kronen Zeitung newspaper headline saying sexual abuse of children under 15 in Turkey was legal.

“We deplore and strongly condemn that an international airport … is abused by a discredited newspaper to spread its irresponsible, distorted and falsified messages in order to defame a friendly country,” the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

A spokesman from the Austrian Foreign Ministry told CNN that talks were held Saturday between an Austrian Embassy official and a Turkish counterpart.

“There is freedom of expression and free media in Austria,” the spokesman said.

What is the law?

So just what is in the law at the center of the dispute?

“Parliament passed a law increasing the penalty for sexual abuse of children under the age of 15,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a televised press conference. “The constitutional court found the law to be disproportionate, ruled to overturn it and gave the parliament six months to rewrite the law.

“Right now, the law that was passed increasing the penalties is still in place, and there is no legal loophole. It is really not in good faith to say Turkey allows for the sexual exploitation of children under 15 when Turkey has taken great measures to punish child abuse.”

The legal age of sexual consent in Turkey remains 18.

“Under Turkish law, all provisions related to the sexual abuse of children remain in effect,” Turkey’s Ministry of Justice said in a statement, adding that the sexual abuse of children under 15 was punishable by eight to 15 years in prison.

“As such, the claim that the sexual abuse of children under 15 goes unpunished is completely baseless.”

Tensions with Europe

The diplomatic row comes amid heightened tensions between Turkey and Europe.

Following the failed military coup in his country last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told CNN he would approve reinstating the death penalty if lawmakers backed the measure in parliament.

Were Turkey to do so, it wouldn’t be joining the European Union anytime soon, according to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

Police try to stop people from attacking a judge, suspected in the failed coup plot, in Erzurum, Turkey on Tuesday, July 19. Turkey has fired or suspended about 50,000 people as the government intensifies a crackdown following last weekend's failed coup attempt. Teachers, journalists, police and judges have been affected.
Police try to stop people from attacking a judge, suspected in the failed coup plot, in Erzurum, Turkey on Tuesday, July 19. Turkey has fired or suspended about 50,000 people as the government intensifies a crackdown following last weekend's failed coup attempt. Teachers, journalists, police and judges have been affected.
Onur Saggoz/AP
Police escort Turkish soldiers, accused of taking part in the attempted coup, as they leave a courthouse in Istanbul's Bakirkoy neighborhood on Saturday, July 16.
Police escort Turkish soldiers, accused of taking part in the attempted coup, as they leave a courthouse in Istanbul's Bakirkoy neighborhood on Saturday, July 16.
OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images
Turkish police officers cover the eyes of soldiers as they are transported in a bus from the courthouse in Istanbul on July 16.
Turkish police officers cover the eyes of soldiers as they are transported in a bus from the courthouse in Istanbul on July 16.
OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images
Akin Ozturk, front row, center, a four-star general and former commander of the Turkish air force, is among those in police custody whom President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has accused of having led the failed coup attempt.
Akin Ozturk, front row, center, a four-star general and former commander of the Turkish air force, is among those in police custody whom President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has accused of having led the failed coup attempt.
Anadolu Agency
In a mass detention in Ankara, dozens of detainees are forced to kneel, partially stripped.
In a mass detention in Ankara, dozens of detainees are forced to kneel, partially stripped.
CNN
A man waves a Turkish flag from a car roof during a July 16 march around Kizilay Square in Ankara after the attempted military coup.
A man waves a Turkish flag from a car roof during a July 16 march around Kizilay Square in Ankara after the attempted military coup.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Damaged vehicles are abundant outside the presidential palace in Ankara on July 16.
Damaged vehicles are abundant outside the presidential palace in Ankara on July 16.
Xinhua/Sipa
People kick and beat a Turkish soldier suspected in the attempted coup on Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge on July 16.
People kick and beat a Turkish soldier suspected in the attempted coup on Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge on July 16.
Selcuk Samiloglu/AP
Women react after people took over a military position on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul.
Women react after people took over a military position on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul.
OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images
People gather outside the Turkish Parliament in Ankara during an extraordinary session after the failed coup attempt.
People gather outside the Turkish Parliament in Ankara during an extraordinary session after the failed coup attempt.
ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images
Turkey Prime Minister Binali Yildirim addresses the Turkish Parliament after the failed coup attempt.
Turkey Prime Minister Binali Yildirim addresses the Turkish Parliament after the failed coup attempt.
Erhan Ortac/Getty Images
A protester rests on a bench as smoke billows from the Turkish military headquarters in Ankara.
A protester rests on a bench as smoke billows from the Turkish military headquarters in Ankara.
Ali Unal/AP
People stand under a huge Turkish flag during a march around Kizilay Square in Ankara in reaction to the attempted coup.
People stand under a huge Turkish flag during a march around Kizilay Square in Ankara in reaction to the attempted coup.
Chris McGrath/Getty Images
Members of the Turkish military surrender on Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge on after a failed coup attempt.
Members of the Turkish military surrender on Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge on after a failed coup attempt.
Gokhan Tan/Getty Images
People protesting against the coup wave a Turkish flag on top of a monument in Istanbul's Taksim Square.
People protesting against the coup wave a Turkish flag on top of a monument in Istanbul's Taksim Square.
Emrah Gurel/AP
Clothes and weapons belonging to soldiers involved in the coup attempt are scattered on Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul.
Clothes and weapons belonging to soldiers involved in the coup attempt are scattered on Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul.
Gokhan Tan/Getty Images
A Turkish police officer in Istanbul embraces a man on a tank in the wake of the violence overnight.
A Turkish police officer in Istanbul embraces a man on a tank in the wake of the violence overnight.
Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images
Smoke billows from the direction of the Presidential Palace in Ankara on July 16.
Smoke billows from the direction of the Presidential Palace in Ankara on July 16.
Burhan Ozbilici/AP
People gather on top of a Turkish military tank in Ankara in the morning after the coup attempt. National intelligence officials said the coup was put down and that the government remains in control.
People gather on top of a Turkish military tank in Ankara in the morning after the coup attempt. National intelligence officials said the coup was put down and that the government remains in control.
Gokhan Sahin/Getty Images
Turkish people wave national flags from a car in Istanbul.
Turkish people wave national flags from a car in Istanbul.
Emrah Gurel/AP
People gather around a car damaged by a tank in Kizilay Square early on July 16.
People gather around a car damaged by a tank in Kizilay Square early on July 16.
Burhan Ozbilici/AP
People take to the streets near the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge during clashes with military forces in Istanbul.
People take to the streets near the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge during clashes with military forces in Istanbul.
GURCAN OZTURK/AFP/Getty Images
People escape the clashes in Ankara early Saturday.
People escape the clashes in Ankara early Saturday.
Erhan Ortac/Getty Images
Tanks move into position as Turkish citizens attempt to stop them in Ankara.
Tanks move into position as Turkish citizens attempt to stop them in Ankara.
AP
Citizens in Sivas rush to the streets during the chaotic coup attempt.
Citizens in Sivas rush to the streets during the chaotic coup attempt.
Serhat Cagdas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
A man approaches Turkish military with his hands up at the entrance to the partially closed Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul.
A man approaches Turkish military with his hands up at the entrance to the partially closed Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul.
GURCAN OZTURK/AFP/Getty Images
A wounded man is given medical care at the entrance to the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul after clashes with Turkish military.
A wounded man is given medical care at the entrance to the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul after clashes with Turkish military.
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images
People react in front of the Justice and Development Party's headquarters in Karabuk.
People react in front of the Justice and Development Party's headquarters in Karabuk.
Faik Erez/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Soldiers secure an area as supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim Square.
Soldiers secure an area as supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in Istanbul's Taksim Square.
Emrah Gurel/AP
Turkish military members make their way through the streets of Istanbul.
Turkish military members make their way through the streets of Istanbul.
Defne Karadeniz/Getty Images
Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in front of soldiers in Istanbul's Taksim Square.
Supporters of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest in front of soldiers in Istanbul's Taksim Square.
Emrah Gurel/AP
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks on CNN Turk via a FaceTime call in Istanbul after members of the country's military attempted to overthrow the government.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks on CNN Turk via a FaceTime call in Istanbul after members of the country's military attempted to overthrow the government.
Burak Kara/Getty Images
Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's iconic Bosphorus Bridge.<br />
Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's iconic Bosphorus Bridge.
Emrah Gurel/AP
Turkish security officers detain police officers, seen in black, in Istanbul, during a security shutdown on the Bosphorus Bridge.
Turkish security officers detain police officers, seen in black, in Istanbul, during a security shutdown on the Bosphorus Bridge.
YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images
A military airplane is seen flying over Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged people to take to the streets and stand up to the military.
A military airplane is seen flying over Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged people to take to the streets and stand up to the military.
Ahmet zgi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
People take cover near the Bosphorus Bridge as military airplanes fly overhead.
People take cover near the Bosphorus Bridge as military airplanes fly overhead.
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images
Turkish soldiers are seen on the Asian side of Istanbul.<br />
Turkish soldiers are seen on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Emrah Gurel/AP
A Turkish security officer stands guard on the side of the road.
A Turkish security officer stands guard on the side of the road.
BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images
Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge.
Turkish soldiers block Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge.
Burak Kara/Getty Images
Failed military coup in Turkey

As the EU voiced concerns over human rights in Turkey, Turkish officials threatened to stop implementing the deal Turkey signed in March to take back migrants who had crossed into Greece.

The EU, Turkey and the refugee standoff

Turkey’s foreign minister explicitly linked the viability of the deal with the EU fulfilling its pledge to grant Turks visa-free travel by October. In response, German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel spoke of “visa blackmail.”

CNN’s Gul Tuysuz and Isil Sariyuce contributed to this report.