As part of a wide ranging reform of their criminal code, Romania has moved towards decriminalizing incest, defined as sexual relations between family members.
Such reform will bring Romania in line with much of Europe, where sexual relations between family members are frowned upon, but not subject to criminal sanction. Under current Romanian law, the crime of incest is subject to a sentence of seven years in jail.
While the law faces stiff opposition, particularly from the Romanian Orthodox Church, the new legislation also has its fervent adherents.
“If brothers and sisters want to have fun, why should they be imprisoned? It is nobody’s business what I do in my bedroom,” said one Romanian man who favored the new changes.
The Romanian Justice Ministry also contends that incest cannot be stopped with “criminal sanctions, but with medical and social measures, because incest is based on pathological factors.”
Still the new legislation has angered some. “Incest should not be legalized. If they want to have sex, better to say a prayer and remember that God sees them,” said one Romanian woman. “I would castrate them.”
Another man said he was unsure if consulting adults should be jailed for incest but added “I think it is shameful all the same.”
Incest is a crime in the United States, though some states impose no criminal penalties for it. The UK punishes incest with up to 14 years in prison.
European states tend to criminalise only marriage, sex between adults and children, or having a child by a relative. Laws exempting family members from prosecution for consensual incestuous acts upon other adult family members are decades old in France, Spain and Portugal.
In Japan, incest is technically legal but is generally considered immoral. Still, such views of incest have not stopped the proliferation of media prominently featuring incestuous themes, whether genuine or fictitious.
Such reform will bring Romania in line with much of Europe, where sexual relations between family members are frowned upon, but not subject to criminal sanction. Under current Romanian law, the crime of incest is subject to a sentence of seven years in jail.
While the law faces stiff opposition, particularly from the Romanian Orthodox Church, the new legislation also has its fervent adherents.
“If brothers and sisters want to have fun, why should they be imprisoned? It is nobody’s business what I do in my bedroom,” said one Romanian man who favored the new changes.
The Romanian Justice Ministry also contends that incest cannot be stopped with “criminal sanctions, but with medical and social measures, because incest is based on pathological factors.”
Still the new legislation has angered some. “Incest should not be legalized. If they want to have sex, better to say a prayer and remember that God sees them,” said one Romanian woman. “I would castrate them.”
Another man said he was unsure if consulting adults should be jailed for incest but added “I think it is shameful all the same.”
Incest is a crime in the United States, though some states impose no criminal penalties for it. The UK punishes incest with up to 14 years in prison.
European states tend to criminalise only marriage, sex between adults and children, or having a child by a relative. Laws exempting family members from prosecution for consensual incestuous acts upon other adult family members are decades old in France, Spain and Portugal.
In Japan, incest is technically legal but is generally considered immoral. Still, such views of incest have not stopped the proliferation of media prominently featuring incestuous themes, whether genuine or fictitious.
Is this true ? :chant: