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Turkey Lifts Head Scarf Ban

Emotional issue symbolic of class struggle

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 9, 2008 1:05 PM CST

(Newser) – Turkey’s parliament today lifted the decade-old ban on wearing Muslim head scarves in college, the New York Times reports, a major salvo in the growing battle between Turkey’s growing devout middle class and entrenched secular elite. Proponents of the ban, who fear women will soon be forced to wear the scarves, will likely appeal to their secular allies on the Constitutional Court.

The head scarf battle is an emotionally charged one—one opposition lawmaker said lifting the ban would “ultimately bring us Hezbollah terror, al-Qaeda terror, and fundamentalism.” At its heart, the issue isn't about scarves. “It’s all about power,” explains a Turkey scholar. “It’s about who gets to decide what Turkey’s image will be. Islam is the lightning rod for all fears.”

Pro-Islamic demonstrators gather in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, to protest a ban on head scarves and demanding more freedom to wear a Islamic style head scarf which fully and tightly covers... (Associated Press)

Women with Islamic head scarves, with one of them wearing a paper bag over her scarf, protest against a ban on the wearing scarves in Turkish universities in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. Some... (Associated Press)

Women with Islamic head scarves, with one of them wearing a paper bag over her scarf, protest against a ban on the wearing scarves in Turkish universities, in Ankara, Turkey, in this Feb. 2, 2008 file... (Associated Press)

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Turkey Lifts Head Scarf Ban

Emotional issue symbolic of class struggle

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Turkey May Lift Headscarf Ban

Constitutional reform would permit Muslim garb in universities

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Attack by 'extreme' secular judges will hopefully fall short

Turkey to Lift Head Scarf Ban at Universities

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Foes Gear to Fight New Bid By Ex-Islamist to Lead Turkey

Critics fear extreme religious shift for nation

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Emotional issue symbolic of class struggle

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Islam • Turkey • Recep Tayyip Erdogan • headscarves • Muslim women

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Turkey May Lift Headscarf Ban

Constitutional reform would permit Muslim garb in universities

Turkey's PM Could Fall Over Headscarves

Attack by 'extreme' secular judges will hopefully fall short

Turkey to Lift Head Scarf Ban at Universities

Agreement alarms secular elite, which fears Islamist rule

Foes Gear to Fight New Bid By Ex-Islamist to Lead Turkey

Critics fear extreme religious shift for nation

Turkish Elections Boost PM

Islamist-rooted, pro-EU ruling party sees mandate in results

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Newser By Users

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