European Forum

Turkey’s Constitutional Court closes pro-Kurdish DTP party

On 11 December Turkey’s Constitutional court decided to ban the only pro-Kurdish party in Parliament -the Democratic Society Party (DTP)-  and to remove two of its members from politics for a period of five years based on their alleged links with militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The Court voted unanimously to ban the DTP after finding it guilty of cooperating with the PKK separatist guerrilla group. "The DTP's closure was decided due to its connections with the terror organisation and because it became a focal point of the activities against the country's integrity," Constitutional Court Chairman Hasim Kilic said. The ruling will raise political tensions and could hit sentiment in Turkish financial markets when they reopen

The request to ban DTP was filed in 2007 by chief prosecutor of the country's Supreme Court of Appeals, Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya. The DTP has 21 lawmakers in Parliament who said they would withdraw from Parliamentary business in protest of the court's decision, which could trigger a by-election in Kurdish districts. The party has denied any links with the PKK.

DTP’s fight will continue
"Turkey cannot solve its problems by closing down parties," DTP chairman Ahmet Turk told reporters. "As long as our goal is a solution to the Kurdish problem, it doesn't matter who is banned or not from politics, because our determination to find a solution continues," he said.

DTP protests turn violent in Istanbul
The court decision sparked protests in Diyarbakir, the main city in the mainly Kurdish southeast, on 12 and 13 December. Thousands of DTP supporters gathered in front of the party's headquarters throwing firebombs and stones at the police, and chanting "Blood for Blood! Revenge!" The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. A similar rally was held in Istanbul, however, it only attracted about a dozen of protestors. At least 60 people were detained.

EU, US condemn ban
The EU promptly issued a statement of concern, warning Turkey that banning the DTP would violate Kurdish rights and could set back the government's drive to end decades of conflict with militant Kurdish separatists. A spokesperson for EU Presidency holder Sweden said that it is concerned about the court's decision. Slamming violence and terrorism, the statement said that banning political parties should be taken only as ‘a last resort’. The U.S. State Department said the ruling was an internal matter but Turkey's democracy should advance political freedom for all its citizens and measures that restrict those rights "should be exercised with extreme caution." It urged the Turkish government to continue with its effort for more rights for the country’s Kurds.

Internal strife within DTP
With the closure of the DTP, the now-banned leaders appear to be divided about their next move. The party members will convene today in Diyarbakır to determine the direction of the country’s Kurdish politics. They will, in any case, bring the decision to the European Court of Human Rights. Emine Ayna, the party's deputy chairwoman said that lawyers were already preparing to appeal the court's decision.

Instability predicted
Analysts say the ban could strengthen the PKK's hand by undermining confidence in the democratic process and the government's Kurdish reform, backed by the United US as a way to help bring stability to neighbouring Iraq. Wolfango Piccoli, analyst at Eurasia, said the ruling would stoke ethnic tensions and hurt support for the AK Party among Kurds and nationalists ahead of a general election set for 2011. Residents of Diyarbakir, which witnessed scenes of violence ahead of the verdict, voiced their disenchantment. "We think that to ban our political party, which reached its position with our votes, is an attack on democracy," said a young Kurd. Many non-Kurds were unsympathetic. "I think this an appropriate decision”, said Ali Kaya. "They did their best to split our country."


Sources: Hurriyet Daily; Reuters