The Turkish Constitutional Court has ordered the dissolution of the country’s largest Kurdish party, the Democratic Society Party (DTP). It accused the DTP of having links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
In addition to the ban, the court ruled that 37 DTP heads may hold no political office for the next five years.
Observers say the ban could lead to new tensions between ethnic Turks and Kurds. They add it may also hinder Turkey’s entry into the European Union, because it may be considered to be a violation of Kurdish rights.
The PKK was founded in the late 1970s. It goal has always been to create an independent Kurdish state in Turkey. Since 1978 it has been engaged in an armed conflict with Turkey.
Photo of the Turkish flag by klmircea (flickr)
Photo by klmircea (flickr)
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