Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Simon Tisdall: Turkey's ruling party has won a victory for democracy | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

"A victory for democracy

The decision not to ban the ruling AKP in Turkey represents a score-draw between the secular and religious forces
All comments (3)

* Simon Tisdall

Turkey stepped back from the brink today, having thoroughly frightened itself and its friends. The constitutional court's narrow decision to fine rather than ban Recep Tayyip Erodgan and his ruling AKP is a defeat for attempts to manipulate the legal system for political ends. It represents a score-draw in the long-running, unfinished struggle between secular and religious forces. But most of all, it is a vicarious victory for Turkish democracy."

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