Kütahya Municipality’s controversial sex advice book triggers reaction from gov’t and opposition

Turan YILMAZ - ANKARA

A booklet giving sex advice to young couples, distributed by the local municipality in the western Turkish province of Kütahya, has drawn condemnation from both the government and the opposition.The booklet was distributed by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)-run municipality in Kütahya and drew attention due to controversial suggestions it made, including advising young couples to “not talk during sex, because it could lead to their child developing a stutter.”The book also said a woman should be obedient to her husband, “remaining quiet and apologizing immediately when her husband is angry with her.” Elsewhere, it claimed that polygamy is “beneficial” as it “creates competition.” “A man married to a grumpy woman, instead of divorcing and having her plagued by another man, can marry another woman without having to divorce. This situation creates competition,” the book stated.Fatma Kaplan Hürriyet, a lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), said during budget talks in parliament that the booklet was filled with fantasies and immoral content.“This booklet, which was distributed by the municipality for young married couples, is immoral. It says ballet and theater are centers for demons, that women should not exercise in sport centers and parks, encourages violence against women by saying that if you beat a woman, she will love and want you much more, and that children aged between 10 and 12 can be married to each other,” Hürriyet said.The government also criticized the booklet, with Education Minister İsmet Yılmaz describing it as “primitive.”“Everyone can distribute [booklets] as they want, but people should have a balance … People object to the content of the booklet. We cannot rely on opinions that are primitive and non-scientific,” Yılmaz said.He also claimed that “secularism had been strengthened” during the AKP’s time in office.