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The Court shuts down Turkeyâ€™s Democratic Society Party

11 December 2009 19:37 (UTC +04:00)

The decision to close down the Democratic Society Party, or DTP, was made unanimously after deliberations that began Tuesday, said the court president, HaÅŸim KÄ±lÄ±Ã§, speaking to the press as he announced the final verdict.

â€œIt has been decided the DTP will be closed under Articles 68 and 69 of the Constitution and the Political Parties Law given that actions and statements made by the party became a focal point for terrorism against the indivisible integrity of the state,â€ KÄ±lÄ±Ã§ said.

The partyâ€™s founders including party leader Ahmet TÃ¼rk and Aysel TuÄŸluk including 37 DTP members were banned from politics for five years, he said. They will be unable to found, join, administer or supervise any other political party during their ban.

In a press conference after the decision was announced, TÃ¼rk said: â€œTurkey is going through a process, and we firmly believe one day they will be ready. Democracy and peace will become a reality.â€
â€œTurkey will not solve the problem by closing this party,â€ he added. â€œMy struggle will not end with the closure of the party.â€

In addition, TÃ¼rk and TuÄŸluk will be removed from their seats in Parliament as soon as the verdict is published in the Official Gazette. All of the partyâ€™s assets will be transferred to the Treasury, according to the ruling.

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) told that they were against the closure of parties but they respected for the courtâ€™s decision.
Republican Peopleâ€™s Party (CHP) said the court passed right decision.
Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Dovlet Bagcali noted that everyone should respect for the decision of the court.