Turkey court chief hits out at Erdogan criticism
Ankara (AFP) - The head of Turkey's top court condemned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's "excessive criticism" of the judiciary on Friday in the latest fallout from a huge corruption scandal that has pitted key state institutions against each other.
"In a state governed by the rule of law, courts do not work on orders or instructions, and cannot be manipulated by sentiments of friendship or enmity," Constitutional Court president Hasim Kilic said in a strongly-worded speech designed to counter accusations that the judiciary is biased against the prime minister.
"To say the constitutional court acts with a political agenda or to blame it for failing to observe national values is a shallow criticism," Kilic said at a ceremony marking the 52nd anniversary of the court that was also attended by Erdogan.
The prime minister listened with a look of disapproval and later skipped a reception.
Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag accused the judge of speaking like a "political actor" instead of "a man of law".
"The Constitutional Court is a judicial organ and its president is a member of the judiciary. The speech delivered by the president must be judicial, not political," said Bozdag.
The court has provoked the wrath of the government in recent weeks, especially after ruling that a controversial ban on Twitter was a breach of free speech.
Erdogan's government blocked Twitter and YouTube last month after they were used to spread audio recordings implicating the prime minister and his inner circle in a vast corruption scandal.
The premier also criticised a court ruling this month which annulled parts of a law tightening the grip of the executive over the judiciary.
He accused judges of showing an "increasing appetite in political sphere" while turning a blind eye to the existence of what he called a "parallel structure" within the state, referring to his ally-turned-rival Fetullah Gulen, an influential Muslim cleric based in the United States.
Gulen is thought to have an extensive network of supporters in the police and judiciary, but he denies claims that he has orchestrated the graft probe against Erdogan and his allies.
Kilic said the government's "excessive criticism" was motivated by political concerns.
"Our members of the court dismiss the allegations of making political or social gains out of their verdicts as an attack against their honour," he said.
