Top court hear AKP's oral defense against closure today

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) today will deliver its oral defense on the case seeking its closure. Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek will present the party's defense before the Constitutional Court, and AKP parliamentary group deputy head Bekir Bozdag will also be present at the hearing. In the defense, Cicek is expected to outline his party's performance since it came to power in areas such as European Union membership reforms, the economy, tourism, education, health, and women's rights. Cicek will also cite examples of other countries' struggle for democracy and explain European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) criteria for closing down a party.