Ahmet Türk, co-chairperson of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), presented his party’s oral defense in the closure case against it.

Commenting about the defense after its presentation, Türk said, “The decision should be made by taking into consideration the European Human Rights Court (EHRC) and the Venice Convention.”

“In our defense, we told them that there cannot be weapons and violence in a democratic environment, that the weapons cannot be a solution to the pains endured. The DTP is a kind of party that demands democracy and  wants people to live together with love. We conveyed these thoughts to the council. We hope that the decision will reflect these thoughts and that it will be positive.”

When you close the door to the democratic politics then all the hope s vanish

“When you close the door to the democratic politics then the people who believe in this will lose all their hope. We are trying to embrace 72 million politically. If a party with 2 million votes is closed then the hopes of those people who believe in it will be shattered.”

About the question if the DTP was established with the order of Abdullah Öcalan, imprisoned leader of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), and if they had an organic connection with this party, his answer was: “The DTP is a platform where every correct thought is evaluated. We have no organic connection with the PKK. But, there is a 25 year old reality and we want this to end. We will take into evaluation every correct method.”

What happened in the case so far?

In the closure case of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Yalçınkaya presented his oral explanation regarding why the DTP should be closed and he repeated his demand that this party should be closed and its administrators should be banned from political life.  The DTP submitted its written defense in February and claimed that the case was politically motivated. DTP stated that 141 acts in the indictment would not require a closure, 129 of these acts should be evaluated in the context of the freedom of expression and association. presented his oral explanation regarding why the DTP should be closed and he repeated his demand that this party should be closed and its administrators should be banned from political life.

Following DTP’s oral defense, the rapporteur of the Constitutional Court will collect all the information and the documents about the case and write his/her report about the matter of substance of the case. While these procedures are taking place, both the Chief Prosecutor and the DTP will be able to present additional evidence or written additional defense.

At least seven votes are required for closure

After the report is presented to the eleven members of the Constitutional Court, the President of the Court Haşim Kılıç will determine a meeting day, on which the members of the court will start discussing the substance of the case.

The case will be decided by the eleven members. In case one of the members is missing or retired, the most senior of the four alternate members will replace the missing member.

According to the Constitution, a qualified majority is needed to close a political party. Therefore, 7 out of 11 members of the Constitutional Court must approve the closure decision. (BÇ/TK/TB)