Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

September 5, 2008 11:54:42 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Court Could Outlaw Turkey's 'Islamist Government'

Posted Apr 1, 08 3:35 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – Turkey's top court has agreed to hear a case that could outlaw the nation's ruling party and bar its president and prime minister from politics, Reuters reports. The AK Party is accused of trying to undermine Turkey's secular constitution and establish an Iran-style Islamic state. The case pits Turkey's popularly elected government against the country's secular elite, including army generals.

The court case is expected to last for months and destabilize Turkey. One expert forecast "a chaotic political and economic outlook" for Turkey, with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said to be ready for "all-out war" with the establishment rather than submit to a ban. European Union officials have warned that banning the party could hurt Turkey's bid to join the EU.

Source Reuters

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Turkey Indicts 86 for Coup Plot

    Jul 14, 08 8:22 AM CDT
    Turkey Indicts 86 for Coup Plot Prosecutors today indicted 86 secular Turks—including high-ranking ex-military officials—on terrorism charges for their alleged involvement in plots to topple the Islamic-rooted government. The suspects, believed to include at least one former general and an opposition politician, are accused of having plotted to provoke a military coup to topple PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government. More »

  • Turkey's PM Could Fall Over Headscarves

    Jun 20, 08 7:16 PM CDT
    Turkey's PM Could Fall Over Headscarves Turkey's secular judges want to oust the ruling party for its moderate, and popular, stance on religion freedoms, Mustafa Akyol writes in the American. On paper, the judiciary seeks to punish the incumbent AKP party for crimes such as nepotism and corruption. In reality, Akyol writes, the AKP's support for headscarves in Turkish universities is what sparked judicial rage. More »

  • Turkey Listens to EU, Will Ease Up on Free Speech

    Nov 6, 07 7:07 PM CST
    Turkey Listens to EU, Will Ease Up on Free Speech Readying itself for possible EU membership, Turkey's government will soften a law that curbs free speech, the AP reports. An amendment expected to pass parliament will limit penalties for Article 301, which punishes "insulting Turkey or Turkish identity" with up to three years in prison. The announcement came hours after the EU annual report again criticized the law. More »

  • Turkish Army Blasts Incoming President

    Aug 28, 07 8:50 AM CDT
    Turkish Army Blasts Incoming President Turkey is heading for a showdown over the relation of the state and Islam as Abdullah Gul, who has been the subject of bitter protests, was named president of Turkey in a parliamentary election today. The nomination of Gul, the foreign minister and a practicing Muslim whose wife wears a head scarf, led to massive secularist protests across Turkey last spring. More »

  • Foes Gear to Fight New Bid By Ex-Islamist to Lead Turkey

    Aug 14, 07 2:22 AM CDT
    Foes Gear to Fight New Bid By Ex-Islamist to Lead Turkey Turkish secularists are bracing for another clash over the presidential candidacy of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, a devout Muslim and one-time Islamist party member who critics fear plans to enforce extreme religious principals in public life. The last time he was nominated as the ruling party's candidate, just three months ago, the army threatened a coup, and thousands took to the streets. More »

FILE - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by his wife, greets his party supporters during a party meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, in this Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008 file photo.   (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta, File)
With a statue of modern Turkey's founder Kemal Ataturk at the left, a judge informs the media after the country's court decided to hear a case for a ban on the country's Islamic-rooted ruling party.   (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
Members of Turkey's top judicial body, the Constitutional Court, are seen before a session in Ankara, Turkey, in this May 1, 2007 file photo.   (AP Photo/File)
Osman Paksut, deputy chairman of Turkey's top judicial body, the Constitutional Court, informs the media after the court decided to hear a case for a ban on the country's Islamic-rooted ruling party.   (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
Riot police patrol outside Turkey's top judicial body, the Constitutional Court, shortly before the court decided to hear a case for a ban on the country's Islamic-rooted ruling party,.   (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 3)

Tags

European Union  • Turkey  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan  • secularism  • Abdullah Gul  • Islamist  • political party


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular


Other World Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »