The West Wing in "facts? what facts?" shocker

[mrph]

So, I'm steadily ploughing through Season Six of the West Wing. I watched King Corn the other day, with its subplot about a Turkish woman who's going to be executed for adultery.

A couple of small problems with that, which a quick google easily confirms.

1. Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2002. They hadn't actually executed anyone since 1984.
2. Turkey did have an old law against adultery on the books until 1996 - when it was struck down by their constitutional court. The maximum penalty appears to have been two years, more or less in line with old US and UK adultery laws. I'm not sure when the last successful prosecution was, mind you
3. Yes, there has since been a 'family values' campaign from conservative politicians who want to reinstate the law in some form. It attracted a lot of press. It failed.
4. Oh, and Turkey's old laws were drawn from European - not Islamic - roots. It was founded as a secular state, after all.

It seems that this episode offended a lot of people in Turkey. I can't think why...

Comments

[mrbear.livejournal.com]

In a complete change of topic, Is there any sign of a plan forming for today? If not, give me a ring and perhaps we can beat one into shape.

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

I saw half an episode by accident yesterday. When did Alan Alda start looking like a Bond villain?

[emarkienna.livejournal.com]

I think many US states still have adultery laws, and do actually sometimes prosecute (eg, see http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62581-2004Sep4.html , http://www.oshellaw.com/DivorceFAQ.shtml ).

[smarriveurr.livejournal.com]

Well, they've taken liberties before in pursuit of the plot. For example, I recall an episode in which they named the "first female justice on the supreme court" in like, 2002... so, they don't even take American history too seriously.

Sadly, while most viewers probably realized the alternate reality of that ep, most probably didn't in this case.

[inulro.livejournal.com]

I wasn't aware of that, but it did strike me as being vaguely wrong, as even I know Turkey wouldn't be as close to maybe sort of getting on the waiting list to join the EU if stuff like that actually happened.