Turkey women MPs break headscarf taboo

[Zarvan]

Four female legislators wearing headscarves have walked into Turkey's parliament in Ankara, marking an end to the early 1920s ban on the Muslim symbol imposed in the early days of the Turkish Republic.

Thursday’s symbolic action highlighted an emerging trend in Turkey where the issue of headscarves remains highly sensitive as it is viewed by secularists a sign of political Islam in stark contrast to the republic's strongly secular traditions.

The four MPs - Sevde Beyazit Kacar, Gulay Samanci, Nurcan Dalbudak and Gonul Bekin Sahkulubey are members of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) which has Islamist roots and has gained a strong following in this nation of 74 million.

AKP legislators declared the ban on headscarves as a civil rights issue that had prevented religious women from expressing themselves freely in Turkish politics.

“I have always said that we overlooked the problem of equality between men and women, but today I think we are finally solving this problem,'' said Oznur Calik, a member of the ruling party.

The issue has continually been a highly contentious and public issue. In 1999, a newly elected member of parliament, Merve Kavakci, tried to take her oath while wearing a headscarf. The left-leaning prime minister at the time, Bulent Ecevit, told MPs to ``put this woman in her place.''

Kavakci left the building while some of her colleagues chanted for her to “get out.'' Kavakci lost her seat in 2001.

The restrictions on headscarves in government buildings were loosened as part of reforms aimed at boosting democracy unveiled by Erdogan in September, but the ban still remains in place for judges, prosecutors, military and security personnel.

The AKP's reformist push has been criticised by Turks fearing the rise of Islam in the official sphere, but legislators from the main secular opposition party, the Republican People's Party, said it had decided not to react to the four MPs' actions.

What women can wear has been a political battleground in both Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

France, meanwhile, in 2011 became the first European nation to ban the public use of face veils, infuriating many Muslims who felt their religious community was being singled out for discrimination.

Source:
AFP
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europ...eak-headscarf-taboo-20131031194259751134.html
@Aeronaut @WebMaster @Oscar @Areesh @Arabian Legend @Yzd Khalifa @al-Hasani

 

[Imran Khan]

a non issue become most important issue let them wear burka abaya scarf or bikini damn whats the problem ?

 

[500]

“I have always said that we overlooked the problem of equality between men and women, but today I think we are finally solving this problem,'' said Oznur Calik, a member of the ruling party.

Equality? I dont see Erdogan walking in Arab clothes around. For some strange reason AKP men prefer to wear Western clothes, but want their women to wear Arab clothes. Is that equality?

 

[Contrarian]

a non issue become most important issue let them wear burka abaya scarf or bikini damn whats the problem ?

The problem is that when Islam becomes political Islam, they start imposing idiotic and cruel laws on others taking away others right of choice.

 

[Zarvan]

Equality? I dont see Erdogan walking in Arab clothes around. For some strange reason AKP men prefer to wear Western clothes, but want their women to wear Arab clothes. Is that equality?

You don't have any idea about Islam and you are commenting on Islam Lady please first know about Islam before talking this dress has nothing to do with Arabs lady

 

[Zarvan]

The problem is that when Islam becomes political Islam, they start imposing idiotic and cruel laws on others taking away others right of choice.

Mr Islam is always political Islam is a deen way of life it has complete system and laws for economy crimes social life trade and business and other thing Sir which is responsibility of state to implement and if they will not do it people will rise up and do it

 

[Contrarian]

Mr Islam is always political Islam is a deen way of life it has complete system and laws for economy crimes social life trade and business and other thing Sir which is responsibility of state to implement and if they will not do it people will rise up and do it

Well, most people think that Islam way of life is arabic tribal way of life and dont want it.

People will rise up if it is implemented. No one wants it. It is the responsibility of the State to implement good laws, not bad laws like Sharia which are inhuman.

 

[Zarvan]

Well, most people think that Islam way of life is arabic tribal way of life and dont want it.

People will rise up if it is implemented. No one wants it. It is the responsibility of the State to implement good laws, not bad laws like Sharia which are inhuman.

Most Muslims want and it and is the fastest growing religion in USA and Europe and whole world accepted by their own think tanks after collecting statistics and by those who who convert majority of them are women

 

[xenon54 out]

Four female legislators wearing headscarves have walked into Turkey's parliament in Ankara, marking an end to the early 1920s ban on the Muslim symbol imposed in the early days of the Turkish Republic.

This is BS, all religious symbols was banned not only muslim!

The ban is now lifted, except for jobs with uniform like Police and Military.

 

[vostok]

Say to uninformed, please - whether a woman can hold leading positions in an Islamic state?
If she can not - what's the difference, what she's wearing?

 

[xenon54 out]

Say to uninformed, please - whether a woman can hold leading positions in an Islamic state?
If she can not - what's the difference, what she's wearing?

1. Turkey is not a islamic state, its a muslim majority secular state.
2. We allready had a female PM in 1993, in contrary to Russia, USA, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Japan and China my friend.

 

[Zarvan]

islam to wo bhi nhi smajh saka jis ne islam banaya tha

What do you mean the one who created Islam understood very well what he is doing he new it because its ALLAH who created it

 

[xenon54 out]

Say to uninformed, please - whether a woman can hold leading positions in an Islamic state?
If she can not - what's the difference, what she's wearing?

Also
Turkey ranks second in number of female CEOs
http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDeta...DC1296AB4D8CC986E243B3E93DC1A75?newsId=225199

 

[vostok]

1. Turkey is not a islamic state, its a muslim majority secular state.
2. We allready had a woman PM in 1993, in contrary to Russia, USA, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Japan and China my friend.

I know that Turkey - a secular state.
I am interested in - this woman is clearly showing her affiliation to Islam. But can she hold such an office in the Islamic and not a secular state? In theory?

 

[xenon54 out]

I know that Turkey - a secular state.
I am interested in - this woman is clearly showing her affiliation to Islam. But can she hold such an office in the Islamic and not a secular state? In theory?

Obviously not, thats why we dont wanna be a Islamic state.