First time in Republic's history!
Those former soldiers who were planning a coup are arrested. I don't think many will be sentenced in the Ergenekon case and it really took a long time to start the next step but it is a good sign for sure...
What is Ergenekon ?
Ergenekon is a far-reaching judicial case that started in June last year, when Istanbul police found 27 hand grenades in a shanty house in Ümraniye district. The findings led to scores ofAnalysis: battle for Turkey's soul reaches climax - Times Online
Suna Erdem, IstanbulWhen a senior prosecutor filed a case at Turkey’s Constitutional Court, asking for the ruling party to be shut down and the Prime Minister and President banned from party politics over allegations of Islamic activism, few believed that the Turkish Government was really about to be abolished. "
Turkey's secularist coup must crumble
Turkey is in the throes of a constitutional crisis with profound implications for the country and the world. Over the past six years this nation, which throughout the 20th century had a powerful secular tradition, has been governed by a democratically elected Islamic party that is well respected in Europe. But the ruling Justice and Development party, the AKP, is now in trouble. That is because the country’s traditional secularists, backed by Turkey’s powerful military, have begun a series of actions that are little short of a coup against the AKP and its leaders.
The trigger for this conflict was a recent decision by the government to allow Islamic headscarves to be worn by women in public universities. To western observers, that would hardly seem an issue to warrant a big political clash. But in a country with Turkey’s secularist culture, it has caused profound offence among the traditional establishment.
Turkish Arrests Focus on Alleged Plot - TIME
Even though it no longer lays down the law, Turkey's military has long been seen as beyond its reach. So a kind of history was made on Tuesday when two former top generals were taken into police custody. They are being questioned about their alleged involvement with a shady nationalist group, which is suspected of plotting to overthrow the Islamic-leaning government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Martin Woollacott: The AK party is hardly the innocent victim in Turkey | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk
Is judiciary pro or against government?
The image of the judiciary inside and outside the country used to be that judges were such staunch secularists (Kemalists) and against the Islamic-oriented ruling Justice and Development Party, orOpposition says Ergenekon government tool
The sudden detention of journalists and retired high-ranking military officers known for their opposition to the government was condemned yesterday by political parties other than the rulingTurkey's EU hopes in danger as anti-AKP case opens
LEIGH PHILLIPSToday @ 09:29 CET
A Turkish court case is to open today (1 July) whose result could bring to a crashing halt Turkey's hopes of joining the European Union.
The country's constitutional court is to hear charges brought by the chief prosecutor, Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) that they are bent on undermining Turkey's secular constitution and transforming the country into an Islamic state."
Politics aggravates Turkish assets' fragility
By Emma Ross-ThomasISTANBUL, July 2 (Reuters) - Escalating political risk in Turkey because of a stand-off between rival power groups is set to deter investors, help undermine a fragile currency, push up the price of borrowing and dent growth."
What happens to the economy if AKP closed?
Eyüp CANIs CHP a social democratic party?
Oral ÇALIŞLARYusuf Kanlı: The empire of fear
Turkey woke up to shocking news yesterday. Scores of people, including eminent journalists, writers, retired generals were detained in connection with the so-called “Ergenekon probe” within the framework of which already 49 people, including a party leader, are under arrest for the past several months and after almost a year an indictment is not yet released!The people are under arrest and the people detained in the “third wave” yesterday are all personalities who have a respectable place in our society, whose whereabouts are clear for everyone, some even had 24-hour police protection and thus were under “24-hour police surveillance” and thus there was no possibility of them attempting toTop court hears evidence in AKP closure case
The chief prosecutor presented his verbal argument on disbanding the ruling party on charges of being the focal point of anti-secular activity to the Constitutional CourtTurkey's past is ruining hopes of a liberal future | Bronwen Maddox: Chief Foreign Commentator - Times Online
Calm urged after Turkey arrests
Police arrest a series of high-ranking ex-officials suspected of links to an ultra-nationalist group, as the ruling party goes on trial.Senior Turkish figures held before court case
Turkish police have detained two retired generals, a leading businessman and a senior journalist, hours ahead of the first hearing in a case against the ruling AK Party, state news agency Anatolian reportedTurkish business leader slams Ergenekon detainments
'Plotters' seized as tension mounts in Turkey - CNN.comAhmet Hakan: If I will not be accused of committing a crime
Turkey speeds up judgment process in controversial Ergenekon case
The Ergenekon operation
The Ergenekon operation started with the investigation of 27 hand grenades found in a house in Istanbul last year. Then the investigation widened and transformed into an operation to crackdown on the 'Ergenekon Terror Organization', which allegedly aimed at paving the way for a military coup against the government."More Ergenekon Arrests
Turkish police have detained two retired generals, a leading businessman and a senior journalist, hours ahead of the first hearing in a closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
The Anatolia news agency reported that said Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Chairman Sinan Aygün and the former head of the gendarmerie forces, retired Gen. Sener Eruygur, were among those detained. Retired Gen. Hursit Tolon and journalist Mustafa Balbay, the Ankara representative of the staunchly secular Cumhuriyet daily, are also said to be in custody.
Strange days
Never a dull moment in this country. The month of July began with a bang as we woke up to the news of a fresh wave of arrests in the inquiry into the "Ergenekon terror organization."The CHP and Socialist International
The Socialist International (SI) is an intellectual and practical platform for leftist, socialist and social-democratic political parties where discussions about leftist movements' problems are conducted. It helps to bring together leftist politicians from around the world.To ban or not to ban: That is the Turkey question
Yesterday Turkey's Constitutional Court heard the evidence of Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalçınkaya, who has accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of undermining Turkey's secular tradition and attempting to impose Shariah law.Words and deeds
As a student of Turkish politics I have always been amazed at the absence of two things. The first is the lack of the elite consensus that is expected to trickle down to society the notions of what good governance is and the most realistic method(s) of social development.
New strategy needed in struggle against PKK, says Güzelgöz
We have been discussing the issue of Turkey's Kurds for the last 30 years and still allocate much energy to its discussion, organizing petitions and declarations.
[GÜLEN AND THE AK PARTY] A common quest for democracy or something more? (1) by MEHMET KALYONCU
Given the variety of opinions on the subject, it is obvious that the question of what kind of relationship exists between the Gülen movement and the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) intrigues not only foreign observers of Turkey but also some Turks.