Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Turkey to Lift Head Scarf Ban at Universities

Agreement alarms secular elite, which fears Islamist rule

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 25, 2008 4:54 PM CST

(Newser) – Turkey is expected to do away with a 2-decade-old ban on women wearing head scarves at the nation’s universities as early as next week. The prospect alarms the country’s secular elite, who see the country on a slippery slope to Islamist rule, Der Spiegel reports. “The logic is one of fear,” explains the director of a Turkish think tank.

“If you allow the head scarf today" he says, "they will declare a Sharia state in 10 years.” Their opposition is a growing middle class that tends to be conservative and wants to be allowed  to practice Islam more freely. Two leading conservative political parties reached a deal yesterday to lift the ban, which discourages many devout Muslim women from enrolling in universities.

Girls wearing Islamic head scarves play in a park in Istanbul, Turkey, July 22, 2004. Turkey's Islamic-rooted prime minister called Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007 for lifting a ban on women wearing head scarves in universities, a shift in position that is certain to alarm secularists who fear the government is...
Girls wearing Islamic head scarves play in a park in Istanbul, Turkey, July 22, 2004. Turkey's Islamic-rooted prime minister called Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007 for lifting a ban on women wearing head scarves...   (Associated Press)
Turkish women are reflected in a shop window.
Turkish women are reflected in a shop window.   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Burka Is 'Not Welcome' in France: Sarkozy

Turkey Lifts Head Scarf Ban

Turkey May Lift Headscarf Ban

Turkish Elections Boost PM

Majority of World Muslims: Islam Belongs in Politics


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne