EU condemn Turkey's Welfare Party shut down

The European Union on Wednesday regretted Turkey's banning of the Turkish Islamic Welfare Party.

In a statement released in London on Wednesday the European Union noted with deep regret the decision of the Turkish constitutional court to close the Welfare party, confiscate its property and prevent certain members from having political activity for a period of five years.

The statement expressed the concern of the EU over the consequences of the Turkish decision on the country's democratic pluralism and freedom of expression.