Turkey's top judge criticizes PM Erdogan
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's most senior judge has delivered a sharp rebuke to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for criticizing his court's decisions, including one that lifted a ban on Twitter on the grounds that it violated freedoms.
Erdogan reluctantly complied with the high court ruling to unblock Twitter earlier this month. Erdogan said, however, that he did not respect the ruling and described it as being against national interests.
On Friday, Constitutional Court Chief Justice Hasim Kilic slammed what he said was "disproportionate" and "shallow criticism" of the court's ruling. Speaking at a ceremony marking the court's 52nd anniversary, Kilic stressed the independence of Turkey's courts, saying they did not take orders.
Erdogan and other officials did not applaud the speech. News reports said Erdogan left the ceremony without attending the reception.
