Turkish women protest deputy PMs no laughter quip

ISTANBUL (AP) — Women in Turkey have taken to social media to protest against comments by the country’s deputy prime minister that “women should not laugh aloud in public.”

Women were sharing photos on Twitter of themselves laughing Wednesday after Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc’s comments that not laughing out loud in public is among requirements of being an honorable woman.

Arinc said Monday both men and women should be moral, and that women should be aware of what is appropriate behavior.

Canan Arin, a prominent women rights’ activist, said it was a pity Turkish women have to respond to such “silly comments” when they have more serious problems to deal with, including frequent male violence against women.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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