Chief prosecutor files case seeking closure of ruling AKP

The chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals applied to the Constitutional Court on Friday for the closure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on charges of anti-secular activities. Shortly after news of the prosecutor's move came out, Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan convened his party's Central Executive Board (MYK) to decide on a course of action in response to the charges. Senior party members with legal backgrounds led by State Minister Cemil Cicek were named to a committee to fight the closure case. The indictment of Chief Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya demanded that 71 senior party members, including founders Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, and President Abdullah Gul, be barred from engaging in political activity for the next five years.