Posted on 06/06/2008 5:29:55 AM PDT by Dawnsblood
Turkey's ruling AK party appeared to move a step closer to being shut down on Thursday when the Constitutional Court overturned a reform that would have allowed women to wear Islamic headscarves in universities.
The headscarf amendment plays a central role in a separate, crucial case that seeks to outlaw the AK Party for anti-secular activities, and ban 71 members, including the prime minister and president, from belonging to a political party for five years.
"This guarantees the closure of the party. I don't think we can talk of any calm before full chaos," said Cengiz Aktar, a political scientist at Istanbul's Bahcesehir University.
The court said in a statement it upheld, by 9 votes to 2, an appeal from the main opposition CHP party, seeking to block a legal amendment allowing students to wear the garment on campus.
More conservative secularists saw the amendment as a violation of strict separation between Mosque and state, and evidence the AK Party has a secret agenda to introduce a system of Islamic law. AK denies such ambitions and has introduced many social reforms aimed at European Union membership.
"With this decision the Constitutional Court has exceeded its authority. I see this decision as contrary to the constitution," said AK Party deputy group chairman Bekir Bozdag.
The AK Party has roots in political Islam and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan served a prison sentence for Islamist activity in the 1990s. But it was formed, six years ago, as a broad coalition of religious conservatives, nationalists, market liberals and centre-right activists.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
This is good news, right?
In my opinion it is kinda mixed. The Islamist party is getting dinged yes but is it really the government’s place to tell a person what they may/may not wear on their head at school? Very mixed IMHO. The shocking thing for me is that they may ban the ruling party (including the PM and President).
The AK party is simply a mask for Salafism in Turkey. It's continued ascendancy is a real threat.
Head scarves are the camels nose under the tent and the Islamonuts know it. If they win that concession it wont be long before the full burqua is mandatory.
let’s see... what would the Demwits in the US do???
Reduce court’s power, Turkish politician suggests
The Star | 6/7/08 | SELCAN HACAOGLU
Posted on 06/07/2008 12:32:14 PM PDT by Dawnsblood
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2027634/posts
Turkey’s ruling AKP to hold emergency meeting on court decision
BBC Monitoring | June 06 2008 | Hurriyet
Posted on 06/06/2008 12:31:46 PM PDT by knighthawk
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2027251/posts
Turkish Court Rules In Favor Of Secularism, Modernity And Feminism
The Stiletto Blog | June 6, 2008 | The Stiletto
Posted on 06/10/2008 4:57:02 AM PDT by theothercheek
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2028759/posts
Divided Turkey sweats in a political heat wave
Radio Netherlands | June 11 2008 | Bernard Bouwman
Posted on 06/11/2008 2:21:06 PM PDT by knighthawk
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2029653/posts
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