Constitutional Reforms and Future Of Turkey-The Most Democratic Muslim State

Turkey is among the most prosperous and democratic Muslim countries. Unfortunately it also has long history of military involvement in politics and banning of political parties in the name of preserving the secular traditions of the Turkish Republic established by Kemal Attaturk. The current constitutional reform package has initiated a hot debated in all the political circles in Turkey. Some critics say it will result in the banning of AKP and early parliamentary elections. Is Turkey going to see the banning of yet another party? Will this not further hurt the Turkey’s bid to join EU?


Since AKP came to power in 2003 there have been several occasions when it came into conflict with constitutional courts and military.Despite having majority in parliament, several of the initiatives of AKP have been stopped by the judiciary. In 2008, the constitutional court annulled a bill aimed at ending the ban on Islamic headscarves at universities. This year, the AKP was irked by the decision of the HSYK, a panel of the judiciary known for its anti-government stance, to fire a prosecutor who was investigating an alleged coup attempt against the government. Now the AKP says the constitutional court and the HSYK need to be reformed. Critics say the government wants to control the judiciary. Similarly it is also alleged that if such an amendment is passed the secular nature of the Turkish republic will cease to exist.

These reforms will make some 30 amendments to 1982 constitution. The reforms deal with appointment of judges, banning of political parties, and trying the military leaders in civilian courts along with several other changes suggested in the package. One might say this package directly hurts the interest of the constitutional courts and military leaders.

European Union, U.S, and legal scholars have welcomed the reforms. The Turkish public also seems to support the reform package. The polls show that if referendum is going to be held that half of the Turks will vote in favor of these reforms. Similarly Turks still consider Tayyib Eurdogan to be most trustworthy politician in the country. But the opposition parties and circles of constitutional courts seem to oppose it staunchly. The overall political environment is getting heated on both sides. Erdogan vows that they will either write history or become history. The opponents are equally fierce.


Amid this situation, do you think constitutional courts will dismantle the AKP efforts once again as they did for AKP efforts to uplift hijab ban from universities in the country? Will AKP also become history like Rifah and other political parties? Will the opposition parties keep on playing only confrontational politics and do not help AKP strengthen democracy in the country? Is AKP really trying to do drastic harm to the nation’s secular setup?