Turkish CC started hearing on AKP ban suit

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's Constitutional Court is to start deliberating the merits of an indictment from a senior prosecutor on whether to hear a case calling for the banning of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Monday.



Last Friday, a report on the indictment was submitted to the Constitutional Court was by a rapporteur appointed to study the indictment to determine if the case warranted being heard by the court.



The indictment sent to the court on March 14 alleged that the AKP has sought to undermine the secular regime in Turkey and is the focus of anti-secular activity. It seeks to have the party closed and seventy of its leading members, including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, banned from political activity. The indictment also names President Abdullah Gul.



On the weekend, Olli Rehn, the European Union's (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement said if the CC complies with the suit, Turkey's membership talks may be suspended.



The case had caused uncertainty in the Turkey-EU relations, Rehn said, NTV-turk reports.