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Reactions: Turkey's headscarf ban

The ban on wearing Islamic head scarves in universities has sparked protests in predominantly Muslim Turkey. Here are some reactions.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 09:14 February 9, 2008
  • Gulf News

Ankara: Turkey's Parliament is set to vote on amendments to the constitution that may lift a decades-old ban on the wearing of Islamic head scarves in universities on Saturday.

The ban has sparked protests at universities in predominantly Muslim Turkey.

Here are some reactions to the issue:

"The problem of the headscarf actually implies a question on whether secularism should be preserved or abandoned."
Senal Sarihan
Chairwoman, Republic Women's Association

"The headscarf ban spoils the image of Turkey abroad."
Ali Babacan
Turkish Foreign Minister

"We will end the sufferings of our girls at university gates."
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Turkish Prime Minister

"Headscarf has always been used as the main, the symbol of the political Islamic movement. For example, headscarf has been the symbol of the Iranian Islamic revolution, so Turkey is very sensitive."
Nur Serter
Member of parliament

"Our country does not deserve this ... all female students may eventually be forced to wear headscarves."
Isa Esme
Deputy head of secular body overseeing higher education

"The logic is one of fear: if you give [people] one thing, they will ask and eventually get more... if you allow the headscarf in universities today, they will declare a Sharia state in 10 years."
Ibrahim Kalin
Director of Turkish think-tank Seta


Your comments


Wearing the headscarf will always be taken as a symbol of Muslim culture.
Shahzad
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: February 09, 2008, 12:36

No one should be told what to wear and what not to. Lifting the ban would certainly help maintain equality in rights.
Nishat
Toronto,Canada
Posted: February 09, 2008, 11:08

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