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| Ban on 'Virtue' Party in Turkey | Date: 26-06-2001 |
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Ban on the Virtue Party in Turkey Contradicts Human Rights and Democratic Principles The Euro-Mediterrranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) is deeply concerned about another blow to freedom of association and expression in Turkey. On Friday 22 June 2001, the Constitutional Court ruled the closure of the Fazilet (Virtue) party for being a ‘center of Islamic fundamentalism and a mere successor of the outlawed Welfare Party*. It furthermore ordered the confiscation of the party’s assets, the toppling from the Turkish Grand National Assembly of two of its MPs and the banning of further three members from political activities for five years. The banning of the party, the ninth dissolution of a political party since 1980, constitutes yet a serious violation of human rights and democratic principles to which Turkey has committed itself as a party to the European Convention of Human Rights and to the Barcelona Declaration. It takes place in the context of the Accession Partnership adopted by the EU in Marc 2001, by which Turkey will become a member of the EU, with the commitment to adhere to the principles of the Copenhagen political criteria, including "guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities". The EMHRN hereby urgently calls on Turkey to respect its human rights obligations and allow for its citizens to enjoy their legitimate rights to freedom of association and expression and engage in a process of transition towards democracy. * The welfare party was outlawed in 1998 |
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