Turkish court to hear closure case against Kurdish party

Istanbul - Turkey's highest court Tuesday started hearings in a case that could lead to the closure of the country's largest pro-Kurdish political party. In an indictment filed with the court in 2007, a prosecutor accused the Democratic Society Party (DTP) - the only pro-Kurdish party in parliament - of violating Turkey's constitution and of working to undermine the country's unity.

The indictment seeks the party's permanent closure and for 219 of its members to be banned from politics. The party currently has 21 deputies in parliament and controls several municipalities in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish south-east.

The DTP is the latest incarnation of a long line of pro-Kurdish parties that have been shut down by court order. The European Union, which Turkey hopes to join, has criticized the court case.

There is also concern that the party's closing could lead to increased tension in Turkey's Kurdish areas and possibly limit the government's ability to carry out its recently announced "democratization initiative," a slew of reforms aimed at giving Kurds increased political and cultural rights.