Turkish Al Rafaa Party members not excited by party dissolution
Turkey, Local, 1/20/1998

Despite the declarations that came from many countries to express their disappointment of the disbanding of the Turkish Al Rafaa party (the biggest Turkish party), life in Istanbul was quiet and normal.

It was surprising to find that the members of the disbanded party felt satisfied with the decision. One of the party members said that it is a "good" decision and added that the decision does not prevent the head of the party, Necmettin Erbakan ( the former Turkish Premier), from being nominated in any future election. He also said that the decision allows almost all party members to work in the political arena and form parties; only seven members were prohibited from such activity.

ArabicNews.com toured the party's headquarters in Istanbul, where it found that the party members had been there as if they were participating in an election campaign and that many citizens were also there to support the party.

The party's leadership believed that those procedures will increase the popularity of the party. All the party's members are acting according to the instructions of their leader Erbakan, who instructed them to continue their work as if the party was not closed, as it will not be closed before the court makes its decision in the official newspapers which will not happen for at least one month.

Previous Stories:
  Ankara to explain its foreign policy to Arab, Islamic states   (1/6/1998)
  14 Turkish Hizbullah members arrested   (1/2/1998)
  Turkey: 37,000 people lost their lives in Kurd conflict   (12/29/1997)

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