| Submit your comments on this article |
| The Grand Turk |
| Top court risks losing credibility via decisions in favor of AK Party |
| 2016-01-10 |
| [TODAYSZAMAN] After a series of controversial decisions that critics claim are intended to support the ruling party, the Constitutional Court is losing credibility and risks appearing as supporting the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), legal experts and politicians have said. The Constitutional Court once again made headlines when it recently decided to leave untouched an application on an amendment that bestowed sweeping powers to the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and a law curtailing Internet freedoms. Decisions rendered in favor of the AK Party in cases relating to criminal courts of peace, which the AK Party has been accused of using as a weapon, and the approval of the "reasonable suspicion" clause which allows individuals and their residences to be searched and property to be seized indicates the top court is becoming seen as a supporter of the AK Party. Also the Constitutional Court recently rejected a petition by pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democracy Party (HDP) in "quia timet" on anticipated fears of injury to the rights or property arising from the curfews declared in the Southeast by the government. The decision was seen as the court's approval of the curfews that have sometimes lasted weeks, preventing people in the Southeast from accessing basic necessities such as clean water or food and has denied children access to education. HDP deputies have taken the issue to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The court has asked defense from the Turkish state on the ongoing curfew and state of siege in the Cizre district of Sirnak. |
| Posted by:Fred |