'Political party closures allowed in Turkish charter'

By ​​​​​​​ Cem San, Busra Nur Yılmaz, Deniz Acik, and Sinan Balcikoca

CANAKKALE, Turkey (AA) - Closing parties is allowed in the Turkish Constitution and under its laws, and a top court will decide on the latest case after examining the issue, said the country’s parliament speaker on Thursday.

Regarding the case for closure of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Mustafa Sentop said political parties should be sensitive to the issues and reasons that require a dissolution and should not violate them.

Speaking to reporters in the northwestern Canakkale province, Sentop said closing political parties is not something special to Turkey but also happens in other countries.

He said that there are rules and practices in other countries on the closure of political parties.

Turkey's top prosecutor on Wednesday filed an indictment seeking to shut down the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), calling it an undemocratic party that colludes with the terrorist group PKK and seeks to destroy the unity of the state.

The indictment accuses HDP leaders and members of flouting the democratic and universal rules of law, colluding with the terrorist PKK and affiliated groups, and aiming to destroy and eliminate the indivisible integrity of the state, country, and nation.

In Turkey, the closure of political parties is decided by the Constitutional Court, based on an indictment filed by the Supreme Court Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Instead of permanent dissolution, the 15-member Constitutional Court may instead decide to partially or completely cut off state aid to the party, depending on the severity of the acts in question.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the European Union – has been responsible for the deaths of at least 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.