Women must not laugh in public, says Turkish Deputy PM

Bülent Arınç also complained about 'moral corruption' by television programmes which he claims are transforming teenagers from 'symbols of chastity' into 'sex addicts'.Speaking at an Eid el-Fitr - breaking of the fast - event in the northwestern city of Bursa, he claimed Turks had 'abandoned their values' and pleaded people to rediscover the Koran.Describing his ideal chaste man or woman, Arnic said they should both have a sense of shame and honour.'Chastity is so important,' he said. 'It is not only a name. It is an ornament for both women and men. [She] will have chasteness. Man will have it, too. He will not be a womaniser.'He will be bound to his wife. He will love his children. She will not laugh in public. She will not be inviting in her attitudes and will protect her chasteness,' he added.According to the Hurriyet Daily News, he went on to condemn the transformation of young females in society.He said: 'Where are our girls, who slightly blush, lower their heads and turn their eyes away when we look at their face, becoming the symbol of chastity?' Arınç also said he was frustrated by high consumption, referring to the number of cars and mobile phones that individuals now own.Targeting women once more, Arınç said women discuss unnecessary things such as 'recipes' on the phone and should, in future, reserve these conversations for when they meet face-to-face. He also said people should not use their personal cars too excessively, adding that even if the River Nile was full of oil, there would not be enough fuel to power carsEkmeleddin İhsanoğlu, who is running for the president against Arınç’s boss, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan, commented on Arınç’s statement via Twitter, saying Turkey needed women to laugh because of a need to hear their happiness. Mr Arınç is a member of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) which conservative values leading to it being described as Islamist.Turkey has historically been more progressive with women’s rights than neighbouring countries but problems concerning honour killings and domestic violence have prompted concern. (dailymail.co.uk)Bakudaily.az