STANBUL, Turkey - Turkey's ruling party agreed with an opposition party Monday to lift a decades-old ban on Islamic head scarves in universities of the mainly Muslim but secular nation.
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Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party and the Nationalist Action Party said in a joint statement that the two parties agreed to make changes in the constitution and the Higher Education Law to allow female students wearing head scarves into universities.
A constitutional change would need a two-thirds majority in the 550-seat assembly. The two parties have more than enough legislators.
Wearing of head scarves in universities was first banned shortly after a military coup in 1980 but implementation of the ban has varied over the years.
Erdogan, who is a devout Muslim, vowed to end the ban during his election campaign last summer. He scored a resounding victory against the secularist opposition.
The staunchly secularist Republican People's Party has repeatedly said lifting the ban would harm the nation's secular traditions.
The Republican's deputy chair, Onur Oymen, citing an earlier decision by the Constitutional Court on the ban, said the constitutional amendments planned by the ruling and nationalist parties would not be enough to allow scarf-clad students into universities.
When Erdogan first proposed Abdullah Gul, an observant Muslim, for president in April, the military issued a statement that hinted at intervention.
The ensuing crisis forced Erdogan to call an early general election. The ruling party's landslide victory resurrected Gul's presidential bid and Parliament voted him into the post in August.
Secularists unsuccessfully opposed Gul's candidacy partly because his wife wears a head scarf. She challenged Turkey's head scarf ban at the European Court of Human Rights — after being barred from university in 1998 — only to withdraw her complaint when her husband became foreign minister.
Erdogan is the only smart turk in turkey, and his muslim! He never gave up on his religion, instead he send his girls to america to study there instead of staying in turkey and taking off their hijab.
He doesnt even like america, but he has to like them in order to stay in power.
Turkey is a millitary regime, and the military choses the leader of their country, not actually the people.
What's weird is that, when Turkey wanted to become part of the EU, certain sections of its government pointed at things like the headscarf ban to show how 'progressive' they were being.
The irony is that such measures arguably contravene the right to freedom of religion under the EU.
Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face...
I like it. No person should be discriminated on grounds of religion, that is or should be one of the main points of secularism.
I hope Turkey continues its secular path in a way that neither dicriminates neither favours a particular religion.
Is the headscarf still banned in the rest of the public places?
If I was Turk I would be happy about it. Religion is the core of every nation an wise nations support their religion (like nowadays Turks under Erdogan islamists) and stupid people still fight with their religion (like most od european politics).
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
I like it. No person should be discriminated on grounds of religion, that is or should be one of the main points of secularism.
I hope Turkey continues its secular path in a way that neither dicriminates neither favours a particular religion.
Is the headscarf still banned in the rest of the public places?
Yeah, like Turbans for the Sikhs in France, and head scarfs for Muslims.
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
Yeah, like Turbans for the Sikhs in France, and head scarfs for Muslims.
Good Point. I just wonder why France choose to ban them. I mean even if it was something cultural what they disagreed with, I would understand but not allowing someone to Practice their religion doesn't sound that great at all to me.
Good Point. I just wonder why France choose to ban them. I mean even if it was something cultural what they disagreed with, I would understand but not allowing someone to Practice their religion doesn't sound that great at all to me.
Well they say it's to do with religious symbols.
Sarkozy was in india last week and indian primeminster was forced to ask him about why turbans are banned, (he had to ask, he wears one too) and Sarkozy said he'd look into it. If any changes are planned, he'd have to make sure it caters for both Sikhs and Muslims, because favouring one over the other, well it leads to conflict.
See what happens....
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
salam all,
as a Turk,im very happy about these meetings which is still going on by AKP n the MHP(opposition party,known as turkic nationalists),i hope it will be solved soon but CHP(social party) is threathen them to gather people on the streets for protests,they say AKp is trying to change the current regime and army is very sensitive in this manner,,,
but another bad point is ,not certain yet but they will allow hijab only at universities,not everywhere...
Sarkozy was in india last week and indian primeminster was forced to ask him about why turbans are banned, (he had to ask, he wears one too) and Sarkozy said he'd look into it. If any changes are planned, he'd have to make sure it caters for both Sikhs and Muslims, because favouring one over the other, well it leads to conflict.
See what happens....
As far as I know french elites, their anti religious attitude wont change soon. It began about 200 years ago and I dont know when it can change.
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
What do the French Sikhs do then? Wear a hat or a bandana or something?
Hat? No! If you have Kesh (Unshorn hair) you wear a turban, but those that refuse to take it off, have been tutored in another school. A Sikh couple are looking to manage a Sikh school, with backing from Sikh council. See what happens.
Ėk Gusā Alhu Mėrā
The One Lord, the Lord of the World, is my God Allah.
Dhan Guru Arjan Dev Mahraaj Ji!
Kal Meh Bėḏ Atharbaṇ Hū Nā Kẖuḏā Alhu Bẖa.
In the Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Atharva Veda became prominent; Allah became the Name of God.
If your cut with it on in public, and you refuse to take it off what will they do, wipe it off your head regardless of what you say?
They do not let the women to come in with hijab at first..I haven't heard an example of such a thing what you said but probably they would not wipe it off but force the woman to leave the borders of that puplic place.
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