The Turkish Constitutional Court started deliberations on Monday on whether or not the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has been involved in Islamist activity, which threatens the secular nature of the country and should therefore be banned. The AKP, which has its roots in Islam, won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections last year. It is being accused by the country’s secular establishment of trying to introduce Islamist rule in the country.
Since the establishment of modern Turkey by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1917, the country has been struggling to find a path between its new secular ideas and Muslim heritage. The powerful military, which was designated by Ataturk to be the guardian of secularism, has throughout been involved in several coups when it felt the nature of the country was shifting.
One of the most controversial political questions during the last year has been the decision by the government to lift the ban on wearing headscarves in universities, which was supported by the country’s Muslim majority but seen by the secularists as a breakdown of the division between personal and public space.
The Constitutional Court comprises 11 judges and a majority of seven is needed to make a ruling. If the court finds the party guilty then it may either ban or fine some of the party’s leaders or ban the party itself. In the latter case new elections will take place in November.