Turkey's AKP to distance itself from headscarf ruling in closure case
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Turkey's ruling AKP is set to distance itself from the annulled headscarf bill without making any reference to the law in its defense in the closure case. AKP is expected to submit its defense to the Constitutional Court on Monday. ANKA news agency said AKP said the annulled law did not aim at lifting the headscarf ban but to expand freedoms. (UPDATED)
The submission of the defense before the deadline is another signal that the AKP will push for a speedy legal process to avoid a prolonged uncertainty. Â
Some media reports recently suggests the AKP has making in preparations to form a new party in case a decision to close the party is delivered, although the officials from the ruling party has been denying such reports.
AKP's defense text is expected to be consisting of four or five booklets, according to Kanal D. One of them would be the response to the accusations against the Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, the report said.
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However ANKA news agency reported Saturday AKP said in its defense the constitutional amendments did not aim at lifting the headscarf ban but expanding the education freedom, in a move to distance itself from the controversial legislation.
"The arrangement regarding the use of headscarf in universities does not breach secularism despite the evidences in the indictment which did not include the issues in favor of secularism," ANKA quoted the defense text as saying.
HEADSCARF NOT INCLUDED
Kanal D said AKP did not make reference to the headscarf ruling of the
The Court last week annulled AKP-sponsored a bill lifting the headscarf ban in universities in a historic ruling. The headscarf bill was included as an evidence that AKP is "focal point of anti-secular activities" in the indictment of the closure case.
Kanal D said AKP decided to leave the headscarf ruling out because the reasoning of the court ruling has not revealed.
The Court will start its debates on the merit of the case once the AKP submits its defense. Then the chief prosecutor, Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, and AKP officials will deliver their verbal statements on the case. After that the court's chairman will set a date for ruling, which is expected to come by end-August.
COURT'S STATEMENT
"It makes us wonder when the officials do not take any steps against those comments and actions regarding ongoing legal cases, although it is clearly and obviously described as a crime in the Turkish Penal Code," said the court in a written statement.
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"In the modern world, regarding political issues concerning the society, it is best for related bodies and authorities to seek solutions in democratic fora, and solution of these problems at courts is not desired."
The statement noted however that the constitutional court took all the decisions away from all political views and arguments, independently and impartially with respect to rule of law as prescribed by laws and the constitution.