Turkish ruling party secure

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By Nicholas Birch

ISTANBUL | Turkey's highest court on Wednesday narrowly rejected an indictment to outlaw the nation's ruling party for Islamist activities - ending months of turmoil that had paralyzed the NATO ally, frightened foreign investors and stalled the nation's bid to join the European Union.

The case reflected a split between pious Muslims with a Western-oriented reform agenda, who control parliament, and strict secularists who control the military and judiciary.

The court decision is likely to have repercussions in many nations throughout the Muslim world, where Islamic groups are vying for greater political participation.

"Had the party been banned, it would have had a devastating impact on other such groups in the region," said Henri Barkey, a Turkey specialist and professor of international relations at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.

After 30 hours of debate, six judges voted in favor of banning the Justice and Development Party (AKP), one shy of seven votes needed in the 11-member Constitutional Court.

The court also rejected prosecutors' demands to oust Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul from office and impose on both a five-year ban from political activity.

The court instead agreed to fine the AKP, with all but one judge voting to remove half the party's state funding, or about $15 million annually.

"There's only one word to describe my reaction to the decision," said Koksal Toptan, AKP's speaker in parliament: "Phew."

Edibe Sozen, a senior member of the government, which has its roots in political Islam, said she was "delighted."

"Turkey's democracy will be strengthened by this decision, I have no doubt about that," she said as she walked toward AKP's Ankara-based headquarters to celebrate with her colleagues.