Presidential and parliamentary elections are now very close and this has convinced Erdogan to take ownership of the issue, even dangling the possibility of a referendum
Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party is preparing to submit a constitutional amendment to the parliament to engrave in large and indelible letters the right to wear, or not wear, the Islamic headscarf in daily life, at school and in the office.
In the secular Turkish state, this very political decision revives, a few months before the elections, a debate that the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal, had already closed at the beginning of the 20th century.
Proof that the topic is current? The very popular Netflix series “Bir Baskadir”, which pits a peasant woman (veiled) against two emancipated urban psychologists. One says, zapping in front of the TV: “It’s the new fashion: now all the soap operas have a woman in a headscarf.”
The presidential and parliamentary elections are now very close and this has convinced Tayyip Erdoğan to take ownership of the issue, even dangling the possibility of a referendum on the (non) issue.
But the first to start the debate is the leader of the opposition and historical secular Republican People’s Party CHP of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Kemal Kilicdaroglu is the one who started the debate by accusing Erdogan of “seeking to hold veiled women hostage”.
Lifting bans
In this way, Kemal Kilicdaroglu wanted to reassure the Islamic conservative layers of Turkish society that if he is elected to the leadership of the country, he will make sure that the right of the Islamic headscarf is registered in the legislation.
“Is there a distinction between the covered and the uncovered today in public services? In schools; No!, Erdogan answered him. “We achieved this!”
In the name of modernism, the authorities of the young Turkish Republic initially had a discouraging attitude towards the use of the headscarf. It was then progressively banned from education and public services, only to be reinstated in 2008 under the Islamist-conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) rule.
The AKP first lifted the ban on universities, then on secondary education, civil services, parliament and even the police.
These measures were taken in Turkey as a “liberation of women’s rights”, for which they do not want to back down, explains Berin Senmez, a headscarf-wearing historian, activist and staunch defender of women’s rights.
Against the objections of some feminists and in the midst of the serious crisis of the Turkish economy, she says that “ensuring that veiled women can exercise their rights (…) is a means of preventing economic crises and increasing the level of human development”. allowing them to study and work.
In the absence of new research, it estimates that 50% of Turkish women wear the Islamic headscarf, up from 65% in 2012.
“To not be noticed is incomprehensible to me,” he adds. “Kilicdaroglu’s bill is an important measure to stop Erdogan,” concludes oppositionist Berin Senmez.
Ideal woman
Because for Turkey’s feminists, who fervently support the Iranian women’s uprising, Erdogan’s goal is primarily to secure the support of the more conservative sections of Turkish society.
“Both the headscarf ban and the lifting of the ban were done in the name of women’s emancipation. In fact, both positions sought to impose their own model of the ideal woman,” writes Genil Tol, director of the Middle East Institute’s Turkey Program in an article posted on its website.
“Lifting the headscarf ban is emblematic of Erdogan’s broader populist, Islamist agenda.” “She never really wanted to liberate women, whether they wear a headscarf or not. For him, women are only mothers and wives, not individuals,” writes the researcher.
“The key to the true liberation of women is (…) legislating for women’s right to choose. Deciding when and if to get pregnant, how many children to have, whether or not to wear a headscarf, women should be free to decide for themselves,” she insists.
A Turkish website called “You will never walk alone” addresses women who, forced by their families to wear the Islamic headscarf, are now removing it.
In contrast, the AKP has in recent months fervently supported demonstrations against the rights of the LGBTI community and in favor of “defending the family”. In these demonstrations, all women had their heads covered.
RES-EMP
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
