Erdogan backtracks in row over reforms

AFP/Ankara

His about-face came as the country’s political tumult took yet another twist with police raids against an Islamic charity close to the government that is accused of shipping arms to Syrian rebels.

The Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) branded the police raid - part of a wider operation against Al Qaeda - a “smear campaign” linked to a high-level corruption probe embroiling the Islamic-rooted government.

Erdogan, who once held an almost unassailable grip on power, has been battling on several fronts since police launched a series of anti-graft raids in December targeting members of his inner circle.

His government has sought to limit the powers of the judiciary and has sacked hundreds of police and prosecutors involved in the investigation, which Erdogan claims is a plot by an erstwhile ally to destabilise him ahead of key local elections in March.

Erdogan offered a compromise in the row over the judiciary, saying the government was ready to withdraw proposed legislation curbing the power of judges - on certain conditions.

“If the opposition agrees to constitutional changes governing this issue (the judiciary), we will freeze the proposal and if necessary will stop it from reaching the full parliament,” he told lawmakers from his Justice and Development Party (AKP).

“We have defended the independence of the judiciary and made many reforms, but there is one thing more important than the independence of the judiciary and it is the impartiality of the judiciary.”  It was not immediately clear what the constitutional amendments would contain.

Erdogan’s comments came a day after President Abdullah Gul intervened personally to try to defuse the crisis over the bill, holding talks with several political leaders.

The legislation has been regarded by critics as a bid to head off the widening corruption probe that has seen the detention of dozens of people including business leaders, civil servants and the sons of cabinet ministers since December.

Erdogan is believed to be seeking the presidency if the constitution is changed to give the post US-style executive powers. But parliamentary efforts at adopting a new charter failed late last year. 

Erdogan accuses supporters of exiled Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen - who hold key posts in the police and judiciary - of deliberately acting as a “state within a state” to topple the government.

Yesterday, he described the December anti-graft operation as a “black stain on Turkey’s democratic and legal history” and an “act of treachery”.

And he also accused the Gulen movement of deliberately trying to undermine the Turkish secret service, the National Intelligence Organisation (MIT).

His comments appeared to be linked to the raid against the IHH, which claims it has become victim to the feud between Erdogan and the so-called Gulenists.

Media reports said a total of 25 people were arrested in anti-Qaeda raids by counter-terrorism police in several cities.

The IHH said one of its staff was arrested in the operation in the southern town of Kilis, but denied any links to Al Qaeda.

“This smear campaign is backed by people inside and outside Turkey,” IHH secretary general Yasar Kutluay told AFP.

“It is not only about IHH. They want to brand Turkey as a country which supports terrorism and want it to be tried before international courts,” he said.

Turkish media reported on January 1 that security forces had stopped - on the orders of a local prosecutor - a truck loaded with arms on the Syrian border and arrested three people.

The drivers claimed they were carrying aid on behalf of IHH, and media reports at the time said an MIT vehicle was part of the convoy.

The Turkish government has repeatedly denied it is involved in sending weapons to rebels fighting the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

However, in December, local media - quoting UN and government documents - reported that Turkey had shipped 47 tonnes of arms to the rebels since June last year.