Turkish court blocks civilian trials for military amid coup plot reports

Turkey's Constitutional Court on Thursday overturned a law allowing the military to be put on trial in civilian courts, a move fiercely opposed by the armed forces.

State news agency Anatolian said the Constitutional Court was unanimous in its ruling on the legislation, dubbed by many a civilian revolution when it was passed in the European Union candidate country last July.

The law, aimed at meeting EU membership criteria, would have allowed civilian courts the power to prosecute military personnel accused of crimes against national security, constitutional violations and attempts to topple the government during peacetime for the first time.

Turkey's secularist opposition Republican People's Party had challenged the law however at the Consititutional Court.

Ties between the ruling AK Party and the secularist military, which has long enjoyed immunity, have come under strain over an investigation into an alleged secularist-right-wing network plotting to topple the government in which retired and active officers have been detained.

The military has ousted four elected governments in the last 50 years, but has seen its reputation tarnished with the exposure of a series of alleged plots in recent months.

The law 5918 making amendments to the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) was adopted in June 2009.

The law entered into force when it was approved by the president in July 2009.

The court also ruled the for stay of execution of the related provisions of the law.

/World Bulletin/