Opposition parties' views on top court's annulment decision

The Constitutional Court yesterday repealed constitutional changes lifting headscarf ban at universities and halted the execution of the amendments, by a vote of 9-2. Commenting on the decision, opposition National Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli defined the court's decision as not legal, but political. Stressing that the headscarf issue has been pushed into a further deadlock by the court's decision, he said that the decision would only deepen the problem. "It is politically unacceptable that the constitutional amendment is considered as a move against the basic principles of the state," Bahceli said. He also warned that the high court decision would speed up the division and the polarization of the Turkish society on grounds of faith. "The court's authority is limited to examining a constitutional amendment in form. This authority which is clearly defined in the Constitution was overstepped." The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said, "I hope no attempts in violation of the Constitution will take place from now on. Those who govern Turkey have to abide by the Constitution." Stating that the CHP warned the government that those changes would violate the Constitutional principles, Baykal said that he hoped Turkey would be governed with common sense and with an understanding entirely absorbing the Constitution. Opposition Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer said that Turkey had entered an unnecessary political polarization period due to debates on the headscarf ban and added, "I hope the common sense will prevail from now on." In related news Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek declined commenting on the decision, saying, "It's not legally right to make an evaluation without seeing the legal ground of the decision."