The ruling Justice and Development Party has long been at
odds with Turkey’s secular establishment, but Erdogan has
denied accusations from the opposition that his government
is trying to scrap Turkey’s secularist traditions.
Chief prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya petitioned the
Constitutional Court on Friday for the closure of the
party, which dominates the 550-seat Parliament with 340
lawmakers. He said the party was «the focal point of
anti-secular activities.»
The indictment says Erdogan’s party «has tried to chip
away at the principle of secularism,» by claiming that the
constitutional description of secularism is «obscure,»
according to a court official who quoted it anonymously on
Saturday because he was not allowed to release the
information.
If the court agrees to hear the case, it would take
several months to reach a verdict.
Any decision to bar Erdogan or President Abdullah Gul from
engaging in politics could lead to political turmoil.
Erdogan said the petition was ungrounded and vowed to
continue what he said was a «struggle for democracy.» He
has rejected allegations that he is eroding secularity, and
points to his promotion of the sweeping reforms that helped
Turkey secure talks with the European Union regarding
membership.
«No one in this country can make the Justice and
Development Party ... the focal point of anti-secularism,»
Erdogan told a group of fellow party members in Turkey’s
southeastern Siirt province during a prescheduled trip.
He said the petition «was not a step against the Justice
and Development Party. It was a step against the national
will.»
