The Turkish president wants to proceed with an amendment to the Constitution, which would guarantee the right of women to wear headscarves in public buildings and schools
THE Tayyip Erdogan proposed on television today a referendum on amending the constitution to guarantee the right of women to wear the Islamic headscarf in public services, schools and universities, although such an issue has not been raised in Turkey for years.
“If you have the courage, come, let’s put it to a referendum (…) Let the nation decide,” Turkey’s president said to the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the who has proposed the introduction of a law that would guarantee the right to the Islamic headscarf.
The discussion about Islamic headscarf recently rekindled as the 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections approach.
A country with a majority Muslim population, but with a constitution that enshrines the secular nature of the state, Turkey has for decades been a country where the Islamic headscarf was banned in public services, schools and universities, as well as in certain places such as parliament and the military areas.
Bans on the headscarf were introduced in 2013 by the Erdogan government.
Contrary to what happened in the 1990s, when the issue caused intense debates, no political movement is currently proposing to ban the headscarf in Turkey.
“We have made mistakes regarding the headscarf in the past (…) It is time to leave this issue behind so that it stops hanging on the lips of politicians,” Kemal Kilicdaroglu had said in early October.
According to political analysts, Kilicdaroglu wanted to show in this way to his conservative voters AKP Justice and Development Party that they have nothing to fear in the event of a change in power.
Against this attempt by the opposition to win conservative votes, Erdogan responded in early October by calling on his political opponent to amend the constitution.
“Is there discrimination against those covered or not covered today in public services? In schools; No. (…) We managed this”Erdogan said today.
“Soon we will send the parliament the amendment of the constitution (…) But, if this cannot be resolved in the parliament, let’s put it to the approval of the people.”
RES-EMP
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I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
