GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAR 16

HURRIYET

-- 61 ACCUSATIONS FOR PRIME MINISTER

In his 162 pages of indictment, Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, asserted that Justice & Development (AK) Party engaged in deception and aimed to establish sharia by using democracy as a tool. President Abdullah Gul is accused of his circular for cooperation with Fethullah Gulen's schools, and former Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc is accused of demanding a devout president. Here are the most significant accusations against AK Party:
-AK Party engages in deception. Democracy is a vehicle for them, their goal is sharia.
-It is possible that Turkey will turn into a sharia state and Islamic terrorism can also be used.
-People are split up as devout and non-devout.
-AK Party brought up regime and future of the republic for discussion.
-The risk of sharia state is growing each passing day when AK Party is in power.
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-- AK PARTY FORMULA TO ASK TO PEOPLE

AK Party puts a mini constitutional amendment package on its agenda to make the case null and void. If the package is submitted to the parliament, Erdogan will announce that "they will hold a referendum" to ask the closure case to the people.
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MILLIYET

-- HARSH ACCUSATIONS IN INDICTMENT

Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya wrote that the Justice & Development (AK) Party might declare jihad if it could not bring sharia by democratic means. In his indictment, the chief prosecutor showed 61 acts of PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan as evidence. The accusations are collected under 11 chapters. Also, 16 acts or speeches of Bulent Arinc, and 10 acts or speeches of Abdullah Gul during his foreign ministry were showed as evidence. The indictment recalled Erdogan's remarks that "I have not changed, I cannot change", his words on headscarf in Madrid, his rebuke against an ambassador in Germany, and his statements that "the right to speak belongs to ulama (doctors of Muslim religion and law)."
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-- RESPONSE FROM PM TO CHIEF PROSECUTOR: HE CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF FROM SHAME OF THIS STRANGENESS

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted harshly to chief prosecutor Yalcinkaya from Siirt. "Those who make our nation face such a strange thing even if it does not deserve it, cannot save themselves from experiencing the shame of it," he told.
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SABAH

-- ERDOGAN: YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave his first reaction to the closure case filed by Supreme Court Chief Prosecutor against his AK Party, from Siirt -- a milestone in his political life. Erdogan was imprisoned due to a poem he read in Siirt, and then he was elected an MP from this southeastern province. In the days when he completed his fifth year as the Prime Minister of Turkey, Erdogan spoke in Siirt. He said, "those who overshadow democratic esteem of Turkey and endanger the political and economic stability will suffer the consequences."
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-- CONTEMPORARY CIVILIZATIONS SHOCKED

Executives of the EU and European Parliament used the expression "insane" for the closure case. European Commissioner Olli Rehn said political issues are discussed at parliaments in European democracies, not in courts. Joost Lagendik, the co-chair of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee, said this is the last panic attacks of those who are cornered. On the other hand, European Socialist Group deputy chairman Swoboda qualified the move as "insane", and EU rapporteur Oomen said prosecutors are making them funny with such cases.

VATAN

-- HERE IS CLOSURE INDICTMENT

There are assessments that may cause big discussions in the 162-page indictment prepared by Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya. The indictment claims Justice & Development (AK) Party aims to bring Sharia by "moderate Islam" method, and may resort to violence if necessary. Yalcinkaya based his claims that AK Party "has become the hotbed of anti-secular activities" on several reasons such as "opening secularism to discussion, using religious provisions in its remarks, statements on headscarf, imam hatips (high schools giving theological lesson), making education curriculum more religious, Koran courses, creating an Islamic structure in state personnel, alcohol ban, religious motifs, exploitation of religion, stroke on secularism.
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-- IT WILL AGAIN BE A ONE-PARTY GOVERNMENT EVEN IF IT IS CLOSED

Thirty-nine of 71 people, whom the chief prosecutor demands to be banned from politics, are actually parliamentarians. Even if the Constitutional Court decides to shut AK Party down and bans 39 MPs from politics, the number of AK Party MPs will drop from 340 to 301. A new party to be formed in this case can again form a government on its own.

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CUMHURIYET

-- GOAL IS SHARIA STATE

Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor's Office claimed in the 162-page indictment that Justice & Development (AK) Party aims at establishing sharia state and that headscarf was used as a key to sharia. The indictment asserted that AK Party said in its own words that it would engage in deception until they establish a sharia state.
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-- ERDOGAN CHALLENGES

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the closure case filed against AK Party was an unfairness against the nation. "We will walk on our way to serve the nation. No one will be able to divert us from our path," he said.
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RADIKAL

-- HE RESPONDS WITH VERSE OF KORAN

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan harshly criticized the closure case against his party. "This step is against national will, and it has no legal ground," Erdogan said. He gave the severest response with a verse of the Koran: "They have ears, they do not hear; they have eyes, they do not see; they have tongues, they cannot tell the truths."
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-- CLOSURE CASE FEAR IN MARKETS

The closure case caused rise in foreign exchange rates, the only market that is open on Saturdays. One USD climbed to 1.2540 and one Euro to 1.9560 new Turkish liras (YTL). Experts say small investors should be careful. However, Banks Association of Turkey Chairman Ersin Ozince is optimistic: "I do not think there will be problems in domestic market."

 

YENI SAFAK

-- INDICTMENT OF CHIEF PROSECUTOR QUALIFIED AS "LEGAL SCANDAL"

Jurists react to the indictment on the closure case of the AK Party. Professor Fazil Husnu Erdem, a constitutional law jurist, said if a constitutional amendment became a reason for the closure case, it is obvious that the judiciary has been politicized. On the other hand, Professor Mumtaz Soysal said closure cases have replaced military coups. "In the end, courts are doing what coups used to do," he told.
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-- THEY WILL LIVE WITH THE SHAME

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "those who are making us face the strangeness of closure case will live with its shame. Every one will suffer the consequences."
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-- LET'S ABOLISH CLOSURE OF PARTIES

Devlet Bahceli, the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said the closure case will have "grave" consequences, and proposed to amend the constitution. "Let us ensure trial of those who commit these acts instead of closing political parties," he said.