A Turkish court ruled on Monday that President Abdullah Gul should stand trial for a fraud case a decade ago, a move that could fuel further animosity between the Islamist-rooted government and the secularist establishment.
As president, Gul enjoys immunity. But the pursuance of an old case involving millions of dollars of missing party funds could heighten tension in the European Union candidate country.
Turkey's ruling AK Party has long been at loggerheads with the secularist establishment, including army generals, judges and academics.
The decision by an Ankara heavy penalty court, that ran counter to a no-trial recommendation by a prosecutor, came as a surprise and traders said the news briefly reversed a buying trend in the Turkish market, fuelling sales in Turkish bonds.
"It is the rule in the Turkish Republic's constitution and laws that everyone should stand trial," the court ruled.
Gul's office rejected the court's ruling, saying that the constitution allowed the president to be put on trial only for treason.
A court of appeals now will have the final say.
- ANY WAY THE SECULARIST CAN GET RID OF THE AKP IS ALRIGHT WITH ME.
- ANY WAY.
- I HOPE THIS MOVE HELPS.
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