Communist’ cannot be used as party name

Turkish Communist Party (TKP) representatives, speaking during a court case on the closure of the party, had argued that the SPY article banning the use of the word "communist" was unconstitutional and that the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor’s Office had agreed with their argument.

Constitutional Court deputy chief justice Hasim Kilic said on Tuesday that they did not agree that the article was unconstitutional. Kilic said the decision was made with six in favor and five against the application’s rejection.

The case for the closure of the TKP was filed by the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor’s Office.

Parliament had made some amendments to the Constitution concerning the closure of political parties after the case against the TKP was filed. The Constitutional Court’s final decision will be based on these amendments.