DUBAI, January 18: Welfare Party, the banned Islamist Opposition party of Turkey, will continue under a new name and a new leader, it was announced in Ankara.Former prime minister Necmettin Erbakan and his two aides who were barred from politics for five years will not figure in the leadership, Lutfu Esengun, a close friend of Erbakan said.
He said the Human Rights Court of Europe, which Welfare has decided to approach, will convict Turkey for disbanding the party illegally and undemocratically.
Britain, the current chairman of European Union, and the United States have expressed concern over the political situation in Turkey.
They have said that the ban on the democratically elected Welfare Party is not a positive development.
Turkey's Constitutional Court on Friday dissolved the Welfare Party, which has the largest representation in National Assembly, for alleged activities against the secular foundation of the country.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
