ANKARA, Turkey, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Turkey's highest court Friday banned the largest Kurdish political party, ruling it promotes violence and has close ties to an outlawed nationalist group.
The constitutional court also barred two leaders of the Democratic Society Party, or DTP, from political activity for five years along with 35 other members, Voice of America reported. The ruling means Ahmet Turk and Aysel Tugluk must leave Parliament.
Hasim Killic, the head of the court, acknowledged the ruling is likely to undercut the government 's efforts to bring Kurds into the political process. He cited similar bans in Europe, like one in Spain against a Basque political party, but said European governments were likely to criticize Turkey.
DTP leaders said before the ruling that if the party was outlawed all 21 members holding parliamentary seats would resign.
"No party has the right to utilize discourse and activities that contain terror, violence and pressure," Killic said.
The judges found the DTP supports Kurdish nationalist violence and has ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which the government regards as a terrorist organization..
