Why do we want Turkey in the EU? It will be the biggest in population and the poorest in Europe. Most of the subsidies will go Turkey to raise their standard of living.

Charlie, Barnsley, uk

It is all about the democracy. The elites of this country have been losing their power and privileges which were handed them over in an unfair way. A real democrat does not have yhe concept of revolution in his/her mind. If you are a democrat you have to respect all sort of freedom.

ilker , İstanbul , Turkey

Every country has his own realities.What just few people know about the ruling party is that they really have plans to turn Turkey in to an islamic regime So, I think every step must be taken to prevent them doing so.
And I think people will see the reality when their real intentions are all clear.

kemal, Ankara, Turkiye

Its just wrong, how can anybody have the nerve to ban a party with 47% of the vote? Then they call themselves Turkish. Why cant they respect people of the republic? This isnt about islam. The elites of the republic are loosing power and they dont care if they create total chaos within the country.

LiStEn_LeArN, BELARUS, RUSSIA

Oh and one more thing... That picture you got up there is not of a headscarve but of a burker. There is a massive diffrence between the two. Just the other day on Turkish TV they put up pictures of the first lady of Iran as if to say this is where Turkey is heading? Turkey isnt iran and it never was

LiStEn_LeArN, BELARUS, RUSSIA

Turks don't get it. You can apply democracy if you know what democracy is. In a country where even mentioning Ataturk was slightly wrong brings long prison sentences, shows they are in deep ignorance. In a democracy anyone can wear anything they want. I saw a nurse was beaten for her head scarf.

Mustafa, Alanya, Turkey

Is this a country that we want to see in EU? I really doubt that- even geographically it's not Europe... I respect Muslims and I'd like a country with Muslim majority to join the EU, but I'm not sure I'd like this to be Turkey...

Ian, Aberdeen,

We never bothered EU membership anyways. We are not European, ask any regular Joe in Europe.

Emre, Izmir,

The picture that is supposed to depict a muslim headscarf is misleading, since only the eyes of the woman are visible. The kind of headscarf worn by practicing Muslim women in Turkey does not cover the face. It is represented by the picture of President Gul's wife (your article, June 1, 2007).

Tunc Geveci, San Diego, California, USA

if you believe in democracy , first you have to leave any kind of prejudice and let the people giving their decisions in elections and respect of its results I am sure that one day Muslims will learn this simple democracy lesson, in this process we need our western firends help to adapt our people

mehmet, istanbul, Turkey

The Euro-centered castles of thoughts like secularism act like the best supporter of the reactionary movements in the Turkish lands. One should wonder if they've lost their persistence for the Age of Enlightenment, and turn their faces back to blindened strategies like US' views over the Middle-East

K.G. Koloğlu, Izmir, Turkey

If democracy is based on the people's verdict, then why not for Turkey. A ban on AKP is a ban on democracy. May be there is no democracy for political party that has Islamic, no doubt, Hamas is not recognized with a land slide democratic election & Obama will not visit a Mosque but other religions.

Ngwa N Tonji, Bamenda, Cameroon

Oh Lord, the EU has "expressed horror" at attempts to prevent the Islamification of Turkish society and its political process.

The EU idiots have clearly learnt nothing. Islamists treat democracy like toilet paper, they use it once, then throw it away. Either you stop them or they end your freedom

Simon , London, UK

"Court judgment for Turkey's ruling party could stop EU membership."

What membership?
Independence of judiciary is essential to freedom and democracy, so who gives a toss about EU membership?
Who cares?

AKP is the enemy of freedom and democracy. So is EU by the looks of it!

AA Cimbom, Herts, UK

The AK parties actions should speak loader to the Turkish people and to the rest of the world than should their denials of their actions. Believe what they do not what they say!

J. Russell, Houston, USA