ANKARA - Chief judge of Turkey`s highest court expressed regret over what he called "attempts to influence" the court about the lawsuits on its agenda.
"We are saddened by national as well as international attempts to manipulate, influence and pressure the court," said Hasim Kilic, chief judge of Turkey`s Constitutional Court.
"Losing social peace becomes inevitable when criticisms against legal rulings turn into insult and deterioration of trust," Kilic told a ceremony Friday to mark the 43rd anniversary of the foundation of the Constitutional Court.
Chief Public Prosecutor of the Court of Appeals, Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, filed a lawsuit on March 14th asking the Constitutional Court to close Turkey`s ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party, arguing that "the party has become the focal point of anti-secular activities."
A number of members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe issued a statement earlier in April, expressing "concern" over the closure case.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament adopted a report on Turkey on April 22nd, which urged Turkey`s top court to reach verdict on the closure case against AK Party in accordance with the principle of rule of law and European standards.
(YMB-MS)