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Turkish party fights for survival Turkish party fights for survival
(about 4 hours later)
Turkey's ruling party has been defending itself in court against charges that could see it closed down.Turkey's ruling party has been defending itself in court against charges that could see it closed down.
Prosecutors allege that the AK Party wants to impose Sharia law and is a threat to Turkey's secular status - claims dismissed by the party itself.Prosecutors allege that the AK Party wants to impose Sharia law and is a threat to Turkey's secular status - claims dismissed by the party itself.
Prosecutors also want Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul barred from politics.Prosecutors also want Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul barred from politics.
The Constitutional Court is not expected to deliver its verdict for some weeks. The case occurs amid high political tensions, after the arrest of several top figures over an alleged coup plot.
Plot allegations Power struggle
The AKP won a landslide victory in the last election a year ago, taking 47% of the vote.The AKP won a landslide victory in the last election a year ago, taking 47% of the vote.
It has argued that the trial is ideological, not legal - launched by the traditional secular elite that failed to defeat it at the ballot box. It says the trial is ideological, not legal - launched by the traditional secular elite that failed to defeat it at the ballot box.
The case takes place amid heightened political tensions, after two retired generals were arrested this week in connection with an alleged coup plot against the government. While I agree that any move towards Sharia law is a regressive step, you cannot go around banning legitimate political parties Memhet HardalBBC reader, Istanbul class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7485413.stm">AKP trial: Readers react class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7327870.stm">Turks fear political turmoil class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7225889.stm">'Deep state plot' grips Turkey
The AKP insists it has no Islamic agenda, but is pro-reform, pro-democracy and pro-Europe. As Turkey's deputy prime minister led the defence in a closed hearing in the Ankara courthouse, AKP politician Suat Kiniklioglu told BBC News that the case should never have been brought.
But the party's leaders are former Islamists, and Turkey's secular establishment - which includes the military - does not believe their views have changed. "This is not about secularism versus conservative politics. This is really about what direction this country should be going," he said.
"Should this country become a normal, transparent, European-style democracy - this is exactly what we are trying do to - or should it remain a country that is state-dominated, where a small, exclusive elite runs the country as it has done for the last decades?"
The AKP insists it has no Islamic agenda, but its leaders are former Islamists, and Turkey's secular establishment - which includes the military - does not believe their views have changed.
It says the government's move to lift a ban on wearing the Islamic headscarf at universities is evidence of its intentions. That reform has already been struck down by the Constitutional Court.It says the government's move to lift a ban on wearing the Islamic headscarf at universities is evidence of its intentions. That reform has already been struck down by the Constitutional Court.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Analysts believe this presages a negative ruling against the AKP. Analysts believe this presages a negative ruling against the AKP when the Constitutional Court rules in several weeks' time.
At the courthouse in Ankara on Thursday, in a closed hearing, the party is fighting for its political survival, says the BBC's Sarah Rainsford.
Party members and lawyers are facing the 11 judges who will decide their fate. If seven or more decide against them, the party may be closed down.
If that is the case, analysts believe the party may re-form under a different name, and may call fresh elections.If that is the case, analysts believe the party may re-form under a different name, and may call fresh elections.
Coup allegations
Meanwhile, Turkish media reported that documents seized by police indicated that an illegal ultra-nationalist organisation wanted to foment chaos in Turkey, to provoke the military to intervene and topple the government.
It follows the arrest of several people this week, including two retired generals, after a year-long investigation. Many were known opponents of the government.
They are the most senior generals yet arrested over their alleged links to the Ergenekon group.
The prosecutor is expected to release his indictment giving details of the evidence in that case very soon.
The government insisted that the arrests had nothing to do with the court case against the AKP.
But critics suggested the case was being used to suppress government opponents.
"There is a suspicion in society that it is turning out to be a political revenge process rather than a legal process," said Turkey's main opposition leader Deniz Baykal.