AKP

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Prime Minister's Consultant For Alevi Affairs Resigns

Prime Minister's Consultant For Alevi Affairs Resigns

The AKP deputy Reha Çamuroğlu, also the Prime Minister’s consultant for the matters related to Turkey’s Alevi community resigns his post, claiming that the AKP administration will not implement the Alevi reform package.

Constitutional Court Revokes The Headscarf Amendment

Constitutional Court Revokes The Headscarf Amendment

The Constitutional Court revokes the headscarf amendment by the ruling party with a vote of nine to two. While the opposition is pleased with the decision, the ruling party says that they need to see the justification of the decision.

“AK Party Is Eavesdropping” Claims The Opposition

The opposition party (CHP) accuses the governing party (AKP) for tapping and bugging their conversations and giving the information to the newspapers of their choice. The government refuses the charges.

Constitutional Court Starts AKP Closure Trial

Constitutional Court Starts AKP Closure Trial

Yesterday afternoon the Constitutional Court announced that it has decided to hear the closure case against the ruling AKP.

1 April 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

The Real Injustice…

The Real Injustice…

While some are railing at the "injustice" of raiding the house of an 83-year old journalist at dawn or the arrest of a party leader, their sense of "justice" is hypocritical.

25 March 2008 Ertuğrul Kürkçü

AKP: “Closure Trial will Give Us 70 Percent of the Vote”

Members of the ruling AKP have reacted indignantly to the closure demand by Prosecutor Yalcinkaya, saying that the AKP would get even more support in the next elections.

17 March 2008 Gökçe Gündüç

Prosecution Wants to Close Ruling AKP

Prosecution Wants to Close Ruling AKP

The prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals has filed a court request to close the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), alleging that it is antisecular.

15 March 2008 Tolga Korkut,Erhan Üstündağ

Immunity of 27 Parliamentarians In Question

The Prime Ministerial Office has prepared 45 reports in order to lift the parliamentarian immunity of 27 members of parliament (MPs), most of them from the pro-Kurdish DTP.

6 March 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

Headscarves Not “In the Clear” Yet

Headscarves Not “In the Clear” Yet

The opposition CHP has appealed to the Constitutional Court to overrule the headscarf amendments, and university rectors have called for the resignation of Higher Education Council President Özcan.

28 February 2008 Gökçe Gündüç,Gökçe Gündüç

Constitutional Change for Headscarf at University Passed in Parliament

The second vote on constitutional amendment on Saturday was passed with 411 votes. The opposition CHP is applying to the Constitutional Court.

11 February 2008 Tolga Korkut

Anti-Headscarf Rally at Atatürk’s Mausoleum

In reaction to the prospect of the headscarf being allowed at university, tens of thousands of people gathered at Atatürk’s mausoleum in Ankara on Saturday.

4 February 2008 Tolga Korkut

Kurdologist van Bruinessen: Turks and Kurds Should Trust Each Other

“The DTP, as the elected representatives of the Kurds must be allowed space; the PKK must be taken seriously,” warns reputed sociologist Prof. van Bruinessen pointing out that the Kurdish problem arises out of inequality and denial of cultural rights.

28 January 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

"Ergenekon Operation":

How Far Will Ultra-Nationalist Organisation Be Unmasked?

It is clear that the USA, the Turkish General Staff and the ruling AKP have agreed to break the back of the Ergenekon organisation. The question now is whether this operation will be used to shed light on cases like the Hrant Dink murder.

28 January 2008 Cem Özatalay

Constitutional Schemes on Dressing Alarm Women

Women NGOs protest against government schemes for new legislation on dressing to impose restrictions justified with "general morality".

25 January 2008 Erhan Üstündağ

Kurdish MP: We Condemn Violence, Yet It Isn't Valued

Kurdish MP: We Condemn Violence, Yet It Isn't Valued

Gültan Kisanak a DTP deputy said: "We are not considering forming an investigative commission about the bombing. During our visit to the governor we could not get any information."

9 January 2008 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

Interview with Ertugrul Kürkcü

"Army and AKP Rely on 'Muslim Brotherhood' in Kurdish Question"

However much the upper echelons of the army may dislike the AKP because of the headscarf and its religious discourses, they are willing to cooperate with the party as long as it does not threaten their territory.

25 December 2007

Collaboration for New Constitution

Around 70 organisations came together in a workshop to ensure that the new constitution will not only be shaped by the AKP.

10 December 2007 Gökçe Gündüç

“Only Women Can Get Women Into Constitution”

“Only Women Can Get Women Into Constitution”

When the Penal Code was revised, women managed to lobby for amendments in their favour. The debate around constitutional reforms shows that the government has not learnt any lessons, so women have to rally again.

6 December 2007 Erhan Üstündağ

Assistant Professor Dr. Yegen Comments

Multiple Discourses on Kurdish Question Silenced

Sociologist Yegen has evaluated the current political climate as a silencing of alternative discourses on the Kurdish question. The arena has been left to the army and the PKK.

17 October 2007 Tolga Korkut

End Violence - But How?

End Violence - But How?

DTP, ÖDP and human rights organisations have countered the mainstream discourse on an intensification in the fight against terrorism with a call for an end to violence and democratic reforms.

9 October 2007 Tolga Korkut

Domestic Media Obsessed with Malaysia

Domestic Media Obsessed with Malaysia

The domestic debate about whether there is a threat of Islamicisation in Turkey has been stoked by American comparisons of Turkey and Malaysia.

26 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

Erdogan: "No Hurry for Constitution"

Erdogan: "No Hurry for Constitution"

Prime Minister Erdogan has said, "We are preparing a constitution for Turkey, not for the AKP. There is no text yet."

19 September 2007 Tolga Korkut

Discourse of War is Not Helpful for Turkey or Diyarbakir!

Discourse of War is Not Helpful for Turkey or Diyarbakir!

Diyarbakir mayor Osman Baydemir has breached the "discourse of peace" with militarist language. However, no problems will be solved when a discourse of war takes over.

4 September 2007 Erol Önderoğlu

New Government: Neo-Liberalism Continues

New Government: Neo-Liberalism Continues

The AKP's new government programme promises a continuation of their neo-liberal policies.

3 September 2007 A. Nilüfer Zengin Kürkçü

"New" Cabinet Presented

"New" Cabinet Presented

One of President Abdullah Gül's first duties has been to approve the new cabinet as presented by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This will be the sixtieth government of the Turkish Republic.

31 August 2007 Gökçe Gündüç,Gökçe Gündüç

New Constitution Must Be Pluralist

New Constitution Must Be Pluralist

Parties of the left have reacted to announcements that the AKP has completed a draft of a new, "civil" constitution: All strata of society need to be considered and consulted. Otherwise, this will not be a democratic constitution.

24 August 2007 Gökçe Gündüç

Army Will Make Peace with AKP

Assistant Professor Caliskan points out that the AKP and the army are not so different in essence. He does not predict a big crisis, but rather a rapprochement. As the AKP moves to the political centre, the left will either disappear or have to redefine itself.

22 August 2007 Gökçe Gündüç

General Staff Will Change Tactics

General Staff Will Change Tactics

Chief of General Staff Yasar Büyükanit has vowed to stay silent on the presidential elections, the first ballot of which is due this afternoon. Prof. Mithat Sancar has intepreted this silence as a deliberate change in tactics.

20 August 2007 Tolga Korkut

Mixed Feelings About Gül in the Streets

A survey of people in the streets of Karaköy and Tophane, in central Istanbul, showed that there were mixed feelings about Güls candidacy. Those that welcomed it did not fear for the laicism of Turkey. Others spoke longingly of military intervention.

15 August 2007 Gökçe Gündüç

Gül's Candidacy: Compromise Expected

Gül's Candidacy: Compromise Expected

Despite the CHPs strong reaction towards Güls announcement of his renewed candidacy, academics Tosun and Baskaya have interpreted recent developments as a kind of compromise between AKP and the state, the army and the bureaucratic guardian elite.

CHP Threatens to Snub Gül

CHP vice chairperson Özyürek has stated that the CHP will not enter parliament for the presidential elections. Should Gül become president, they would not join receptions at the residence or trips abroad. The AKP is trying to take revenge.

Gül: I Will Embrace Everyone

Gül: I Will Embrace Everyone

Abdullah Gül has formally applied to the parliament presidency for his candidacy. In a press statement he said that he would obey the principle of neutrality and protect the basic elements of the constitution: I will keep the promises I made.