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

Turkey's PM Could Fall Over Headscarves

Attack by 'extreme' secular judges will hopefully fall short

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 20, 2008 7:16 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – Turkey's secular judges want to oust the ruling party for its moderate, and popular, stance on religion freedoms, Mustafa Akyol writes in the American. On paper, the judiciary seeks to punish the incumbent AKP party for crimes such as nepotism and corruption. In reality, Akyol writes, the AKP's support for headscarves in Turkish universities is what sparked judicial rage.

More than 400 of Turkey's 511 lawmakers approved amendments to allow the garment, and 80% of Turks agreed. But judges ruled that the move conflicted with “the basic principle of the Republic"—secularism. "If the AKP government is effectively overthrown, many Muslims inside and outside Turkey will sour on the democratic process," Akyol writes. "That would be a horrible outcome. Let’s hope the extreme secularists don’t succeed."

Supporters of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party, or AKP, wearing Islamic-style headscarves, leave an election rally.
Supporters of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party, or AKP, wearing Islamic-style headscarves, leave an election rally.   (AP Photo)
Secular university students in Turkey hold leaflets read that: We want a brilliant future. We don't want AKP and a banner showing Prime Minister Erdogan wearing a U.S. flag like head scarf.
Secular university students in Turkey hold leaflets read that: "We want a brilliant future. We don't want AKP" and a banner showing Prime Minister Erdogan wearing a U.S. flag like head scarf.   (AP Photo)
Demonstrators wearing masks of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second right, and U.S. President George W. Bush, right, march in Istanbul.
Demonstrators wearing masks of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, second right, and U.S. President George W. Bush, right, march in Istanbul.   (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)
Emine Erdogan, the wife of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, wearing an Islamic-style headscarf.
Emine Erdogan, the wife of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, wearing an Islamic-style headscarf.   (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici, File)
With a photograph of modern Turkey's founder Kemal Ataturk in the background, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks.
With a photograph of modern Turkey's founder Kemal Ataturk in the background, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks.   (AP Photo)
Members of Turkish Communist Party hold anti-U.S. banners as they chant slogans in Istanbul after a visit by Dick Cheney.
Members of Turkish Communist Party hold anti-U.S. banners as they chant slogans in Istanbul after a visit by Dick Cheney.   (AP Photo/Serkan Senturk)
« 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.

Another side of the argument
Los Angeles Times

The headscarf ruling
International Herald Tribune

And the indictment against the government
Independent (UK)

 
Islam • Turkey • constitutional amendment • democracy • Muslim • secularism • Recep Tayyip Erdogan • Justice and Development Party

More Newser Stories

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

Turkey Dodges Political Crisis

Turkish Elections Boost PM

Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea

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