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Show HERALD DAILY A12 TfiursOay.Juyji, suvo UNSEEN IRAQ Turkish court headaches in Baghdad votes against ban on ruling party Rush-ho- ur stituency is mainly made up of devout Muslims whose growLOS ANGELES TIMES ing economic prosperity has emboldened them to seek what TurISTANBUL, Turkey they consider greater religious freedoms. The secular camp, key's highest court Wednesday decided against outlawing though, sees public displays of the ruling party, which had piety, even in an overwhelmbeen accused of attempting to ingly Muslim country, as a advance an Islamist agenda in violation of Turkey's secular constitution. officially secular Turkey. The narrow verdict, which The case against the AKP came after three days of was brought by prosecutors Yesim Comert and Laura King r T If:, r " . i f V after the government tried earlier this year to lift a ban on the wearing of Muslim political crisis but did little to address fundamental tenhead scarves in public universions between religiously obsities. That prohibition has its servant Turks and their more roots in the decision of modsecular-minde- d ern Turkey's highly respected compatriots. In its ruling, the Constitufounding father, Kemal Atat-urtional Court penalized the Justo ban religious dress in tice and Development Party, public institutions. The fact known by its Turkish initials, that the Constitutional Court AKP, with financial sanctions agreed to hear the case at all that represent a loss of about was ashock to the AKP and half the party's subsidy from many of its supporters. If the the government treasury. party had been banned, its But the penalty was not exleaders would probably have dissolved the government, pected to significantly curtail called elections and reconthe AKFs ability to function because the shortfall can be stituted the party under a made up at least in part by different name. The case also private donations. The verdict put the AKP on notice that was greeted with evident relief the court would be watching it closely for the remainder of by the AKP. Cabinet minister term. Six of the Faruk Celik called it a victory its five-ye11 judges voted in favor of the for Turkish democracy. The ban party had steadfastly denied just one short of the the charges and said they were required number. The Constitutional Court's politically motivated. Outlawing the AKP, which chairman, Hasim Kilic, told a solidly won last summer's par- news conference in the capital, Ankara, that the cut in liamentary elections, would have been a drastic step for the AKFs state subsidy came at the urging of judges who the court to take. A ban on considered the party a "hub the party or any of its senior activities" and leaders would probably have of forced early elections and wanted the gesture to serve as a warning. The court has seriously damaged Turkey's prospects for moving ahead traditionally seen itself as a chief guardian of the secular with efforts to join the Euroconstitution. pean Union. Financial markets were exSome analysts speculated pected to be buoyed by the ver- that the court feared that a dict. The stock exchange had remade AKP would have reclosed for the day when the turned with an even stronger public mandate. Others said ruling was issued, but market jitters had already calmed on prosecutors failed to make a speculation over the last day or sufficient case that the party's two that the court would decide policies were enough of a against a ban The AKFs con-- threat that it should be banned. closed-doo- r hearings, averted what could have been a drawn-ou- t k, Photos by ANDREA BRUCEWashington Busy wall, in Post Street in Baghdad reeks of trash odors and car exhaust. Brothers sell soda, candy and water outside the barrier the traffic. Dogs own the sidewalks; schoolchildren jump puddles of sewage to cross the crowded street. blast walls protect people but hurt businesses U.S.-bui- lt Andrea Bruce them, the wall is as normal as sidewalks and street signs. In the past, a government through a break car picked up Ali at his home. Now he waits behind the blast barrier wall, Ali waits for his wall, built by U.S. troops. The Street other commuters, also waiting for rides, don't socialize. Misnear Baghdad's Sadr City district. A minibus, one of many trustful, scared of kidnappings, stuck in traffic, will take him they keep their destinations and sources of income secret. and other government workers to the Ministry of Trade, Many work for Western organizations. where he has worked for 30 Before 2003, civil servants years. This is his Monday like Ali were not allowed to morning commute. own personal vehicles. After The barriers, intended to protect people, have killed local the war began, he says, they businesses. Supermarkets are were finally free to buy. "Even though all the models blocked from customers. The are from the '90s, most were neighborhood is, for the most affordable. Necessary for dopart, reachable only by foot. Life ing errands," Ali says. "Now boys sell jerrycans of gas from there is traffic. Work is too far their perch atop the concrete away for expensive gas. And the wall makes it difficult structures. Brothers sell soda, for cars to enter the neighborcandy and water outside the hood." wall, in the traffic. Children Ali waits. It's been almost an wave goodbye to their parents and quickly disappear through hour now. The street is a sight, the the barrier gaps to school. To THE WASHINGTON POST n Peering few. Jh ji ft ivJil - i anti-secul- Qasim Ali waits for his ride behind a blast wall on Street near Baghdad's Sadr City district. atmosphere heavy with trash odors and car exhaust. Dogs own the sidewalks, schoolchil- dren jump puddles of sewage to cross the busy street, and a donkey brays at his driver's sharp whip. But Au s eyes are closed. Washington Post Andrea Bruce is documenting the lives of Iraqis in a regular feature, photographer "Unseen Iraq. " ft. v.m I 1 c i I 5 ! I: fcrtraif rnckcge special A't: enter to win Package Includes: One-1- 0 x 13 a Two-8xl- Four-5x- 7' Four-- 3 $1000 adventure getaway (' ( $CD55 32 Wallets PLUS 6 FREE Personalized Portrait Cards 40 CARD DESIGNS! 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