Gov't lashes out at a declaration by supreme court of appeals

Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek yesterday harshly criticized a declaration by Supreme Court of Appeals, in which the court's Board of Chairmen accused the government of putting pressure on the judiciary and trying to create a pro-government judiciary. Cicek held a press conference with two high-level party executives from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Parliament, and said, "This is a political declaration and it cannot be accepted. The court has no right, duty or authorization to make a declaration like this." Stressing that the declaration has no judicial or democratic legitimacy and that the court cannot act like a opposition party and cannot become a party to political debates, Cicek also said, "With this declaration, the court became a party to the ongoing closure case seeking the closure of AKP," and added, "This declaration also aims to influence the Constitutional Court's decision on the changes lifting the headscarf ban at universities on the eve of decision." Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin also criticized the declaration as totally unnecessary and political, and said, "The government has worked so far in accordance with the principle of separation of powers and will continue to do so. It's not designed to control the judiciary for political goals."