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Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News
Turkey bans pro-Islamic party
Turkey - Turkey's top court yesterday banned the
pro-Islamic Virtue Party, the main opposition party, in a verdict that
threatens the stability of a government already struggling to overcome an
economic crisis.The move is also likely to be a setback for Turkey's push to
join the European Union, which is demanding more democratic reforms.The
Constitutional Court voted 8-3 to close Virtue on the grounds that it was a
focal point for anti-secular activities. Turkey is a staunchly secular state,
and Virtue is the latest in a series of pro-Islamic parties to be shut down.
The verdict is "a blow to Turkey's search for democracy and law," Virtue
leader Recai Kutan told party lawmakers at what probably was one of their
last meetings. "Let nobody be deceived. In Turkey, in its present state,
there is no democracy." Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said he was saddened by
the decision. "Let's not inflate this. It must not be allowed to shake
Turkey's stability," said Ecevit, who had called for a postponement of the
court's decision. The ruling came as the government is struggling to
implement reforms after a February crisis that led to a 50 percent fall in
the lira against the dollar. Thousands of firms have folded, and about
500,000 Turks have lost their jobs.The government's economic recovery
program, backed with $15.7 billion in loans pledged by the International
Monetary Fund, has led to price increases and has strained relations between
members of the three-party governing coalition. The court also expelled two
of Virtue's deputies in parliament, leaving the party's 100 remaining
lawmakers to decide whether to form a new party, join other parties or remain
independent.
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