If Prime Minister Erdo?an was Links of London Charms about the freedom of expression, he would have included stipulations in the AKP's package of constitutional changes, voted for in the Sept. 12 referendum, which guarantees this the way the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution does. But it clearly did not suit him to do so, which is not surprising since his intolerance of criticism by the written media or of caricatures portraying him is well known. The question however is why is the same Europe that raised hell over article Links of London Snowflake Charms at the time is not making its displeasure more apparent now, seeing as there are other articles that are as restrictive, if not more, of the freedom of the press as article 301 was.Three years ago, when the Justice and Development Party (AKP) won the July 2007 early elections in a landslide victory and firmly consolidated its hold on power, the country appeared ready for a new and more democratic constitution -- one that would finally replace the 1982 document written under military rule. What emerged shortly after the elections was not a new constitution but a major political crisis. Unable to establish a parliamentary consensus, Prime Minister Links of London Sweetie Black Rhodium & 18ct Rolled Gold Bracelet Tayyip Erdo?an opted for a minor constitutional reform package that lifted the headscarf ban in Turkish public universities. This amendment ended up almost costing the closure of the AKP on the grounds that it followed an Islamist agenda. As we all remember, after months of political paralysis, the AKP and Erdo?an survived by a whisker. The Constitutional Court narrowly decided not to ban the party. Yet, the AKP was found guilty of nurturing an Islamist agenda. All hopes for constitutional change vanished, and a bitter power struggle between pro and anti-AKP camps began. The country became increasingly polarized, particularly in the framework of the Ergenekon case -- an investigation Links of London Sweetie Bracelet Medium led to the arrest of dozens of retired and active duty military officers, as well as dozens of secularist activists, on charges of plotting multiple coup attempts. Today, as Turkey approaches a crucial referendum for new amendments to the Constitution, the political stakes are once again very high. In essence, what the governing party is proposing is a major reform that would overhaul the judiciary by opening up the way judges are appointed and expanding its membership.
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