Divorced women battle for their surnames


ANKARA – The Turkish parliament will debate amendments to laws to enable divorced women to keep their maiden surname following a spate of complaints from women.A parliamentary subcommittee assessing petitions will analyze Marital Law next month and present recommendations to lawmakers to debate the matter.Numerous complaints lodged by women indicate problems with the obligation to keep the husband's last name despite divorce. Complaints focus on "offensive obligation" to keep the last name in official documents such as title deeds and diplomas. Maiden names are cited on the back page of IDs when women get married but divorced women are demanding married names to be completely removed from IDs when they divorce.