Case Against Turkey's Ruling Party Gets Under Way

Turkey's constitutional court has begun hearing a case calling for the ruling Justice and Development Party to be shut down on the charge of undermining the secular state. The prosecutors are asking the court to disband the party and ban the prime minister and president from politics. As Dorian Jones reports for VOA from Istanbul, just as the case got started, Turkish authorities arrested more than 20 hardline nationalists, including two retired generals.
 
While a majority of Turks are deeply suspicious of the AK Party's Islamic roots, most - 51 percent in the latest poll - oppose its closure and only 34 percent support a ban on the AT Party.

Political columnist Nuray Mert says the case is creating deep divisions in the Turkish society. "This tension will go on and on; I cannot see any solution at the moment, neither the government takes a step back nor the opposition. They are not inclined to take a step, so I cannot see any future of compromise."

Only hours before the case opened, Turkish authorities arrested more than 20 high-profile government critics, including two retired generals and a leading journalist. The arrests are part of an investigation into an alleged attempt to overthrow the government.

The government is scheduled to present its case to the constitutional court on Thursday.