ANKARA, Turkey - Former members of Turkey's chief opposition party walked out of parliament Monday to protest a Constitutional Court ruling that outlawed their party.
The court banned the Virtue Party on Friday, saying it was a center of Islamic militancy and anti-secularist activity.
Virtue, Turkey's only Islamist party of any significance, controlled 102 out of 550 seats, making it the third largest grouping in parliament.
The court also expelled two former Virtue lawmakers.
The remaining 100 ex-Virtue deputies automatically became non-affiliated, independent MPs. On Monday, they were formally dismissed from parliamentary commissions and replaced with MPs belonging to other parties.
Turkey's population of more than 65 million people is overwhelmingly Muslim, but its constitution strictly separates state and religion. The courts have banned previous incarnation of Islamic-oriented political parties.
"The claim that we are against the republic is slander," Recai Kutan, who had led Virtue, told the assembly before his followers walked out.
"The allegations that we have been involved in anti-secularist activities are utterly baseless," Kutan said.
Turkey became an EU candidate in 1999 but must overhaul its sketchy human rights record for accession talks to begin.
"This decision is a blow to Turkey's efforts to enter the European Union," Kutan said.
An EU statement Monday said the Union "notes with concern" the court ruling.
Yasin Hatipoglu, Virtue's former deputy head MP, said the Islamist lawmakers would return only when the assembly voted on a package of constitutional reforms, which include a provision making party closures more difficult.
The walk-out was not expected to affect other pending legislation, as the remaining number of MP's far exceeds the threshold needed to pass laws.
11:29 06-25-01
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