Turk prosecutor says AKP seeks Sharia order, demands its closure

The verbal statement at the Constitutional Court lasted 90 minutes.  Â

 

In his verbal arguments, the prosecutor said, "The AKP wants to establish a Sharia order, and there is an open and imminent threat on this issue," the state-run Anatolian Agency reported.

 

Yalcinkaya also added the Venetia Criteria of the European Union cannot be implemented in the case against the AKP. According to the EU criteria, a party can only be closed if it supports violence.

 

He also said the acquittal of controversial sect leader Fettullah Gulen should not have any impact on the case, adding "Gulen's acquittal does not change the fact that he is a religious sect leader," AA reported.

 

The prosecutor also mentioned the annulment of the law lifting the headscarf ban will not remove the accusations against the ruling party, on contrary the annulment of the law on the grounds that it violates secularism strengthens claims on the AKP.

 

AA also said Yalcinkaya read his verbal arguments from a written document, which will be translated into an official record and sent to the AKP.

 

 

RULING BY END-AUGUST

The process in the closure case against the ruling AKP steps up a notch this week as both sides of the closure case, the top prosecutor and the AKP, make their final moves in the case procedure.

 

Yalcinkaya filed a case against the Islamist-rooted AKP in March, and demanded the party's closure, as well as a ban on 71 officials from political activities. The prosecutor accused the AKP of becoming the "focal point of anti-secular activities", as the party's harsh response and criticism against the court raised tension in the country.         Â

 

Speeding up the pace of the case process and reaching a final decision is widely assessed as important as the political turmoil strengthens over the uncertainty of the ruling party's future.Â

 

After both parties deliver their verbal defense, the Constitutional Court's rapporteur will submit and distribute to court members his report regarding the case and a decision date will be announced by the court’s chairman, Hasim Kilic.

 

The verbal defense of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the closure case will be delivered by Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek, according to recent media reports.

 

The AKP's deputy parliamentary group leader Bekir Bozdag will accompany Cicek at the hearing on July 3, the reports say.

 

The AKP, in its verbal defense, will tell the court that Yalcinkaya's indictment contained incorrect information and was based on wrong claims.Â

 

The closure case is expected to conclude at the end of the August provided no extraordinary developments occur.