Turkish court overturns law on soldiers being tried in civil courts

Istanbul - Turkey's top court has overturned a landmark law that would have allowed for members of the military to be tried in civilian courts. The armed forces had strongly opposed the law, which was passed by parliament last July.

The Constitutional Court in Ankara, in a unanimous decision issued late Thursday, found that the law violated Turkey's constitution, according to a statement released on the court's website.

The law was drafted as part of an ongoing effort, connected with Turkey's European Union membership bid, to reduce the influence held by the country's powerful military.

There have been three military coups in Turkey since the founding of the modern republic in 1923. The army sees itself as a secular bulwark against the mildly-Islamist government.

The court's decision could undermine several ongoing investigations into alleged military plots against the government that were enacted under the law.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/305167,turkish-court-overturns-law-on-soldiers-being-tried-in-civil-courts.html.