Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Friday approved constitutional amendments allowing women to wear Islamic headscarves at universities, defying objections that the move is an attack on secularism.
Gul also called on the government to take steps to dispel concerns over the impact of the amendment package and to give priority to rights reforms that will boost the country's aspiration to join the EU, a statement from his office said.
The amendments, drawn up by the governing Islamist-rooted Justice and Development party (AKP), were adopted by an overwhelming parliamentary majority on Feb. 9, as tens of thousands gathered in the capital, Ankara, to protest against the move.
no contradiction
The president "did not find the amendments in contradiction with the general principles of law, the basic tenets of the republic and procedural rules governing constitutional amendments," a statement said.
"It is been understood that the amendments aim to strengthen the principle of equality before the law and the right to education by elucidating and confirming pre-existing clauses in the Constitution," it said.
Secularist forces -- among them the army, the judiciary and academics -- see the headscarf as a symbol of defiance against the strict separation of state and religion in Muslim-majority Turkey.
They say easing the restriction in universities will put pressure on women to cover up and pave the way to lift a similar ban in secondary education and government offices.
Top academics have warned there could be clashes on campuses and a boycott of classes by some female academics.
The secular main opposition party has threatened to take the amendments to the constitutional court on the grounds that they fall foul of the country's secular order.
sensitivity
Gul believes there is a "necessity to be understanding of the concerns of some of our citizens and to implement arrangements that will dispel these concerns," the statement said.
"The president believes it is necessary to show the utmost sensitivity and care in alleviating these concerns," it said.
The administration must also "accelerate arangements to strengthen other basic rights and liberties, and give priority to reforms required by European Union membership process," the statement said.
The AKP says the headscarf ban, which was imposed after the 1980 military coup, is a violation of the freedom of conscience and the right to education.
But many are wary of the party's roots in a banned Islamist movement and suspect it of having a secret agenda to introduce religious rule in Turkey.
RARE EVENT: While some cultures have a negative view of eclipses, others see them as a chance to show how people can work together, a scientist said Stargazers across a swathe of the world marveled at a dramatic red “Blood Moon” during a rare total lunar eclipse in the early hours of yesterday morning. The celestial spectacle was visible in the Americas and Pacific and Atlantic oceans, as well as in the westernmost parts of Europe and Africa. The phenomenon happens when the sun, Earth and moon line up, causing our planet to cast a giant shadow across its satellite. But as the Earth’s shadow crept across the moon, it did not entirely blot out its white glow — instead the moon glowed a reddish color. This is because the
DEBT BREAK: Friedrich Merz has vowed to do ‘whatever it takes’ to free up more money for defense and infrastructure at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty Germany’s likely next leader Friedrich Merz was set yesterday to defend his unprecedented plans to massively ramp up defense and infrastructure spending in the Bundestag as lawmakers begin debating the proposals. Merz unveiled the plans last week, vowing his center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) bloc and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) — in talks to form a coalition after last month’s elections — would quickly push them through before the end of the current legislature. Fraying Europe-US ties under US President Donald Trump have fueled calls for Germany, long dependent on the US security umbrella, to quickly
In front of a secluded temple in southwestern China, Duan Ruru skillfully executes a series of chops and strikes, practicing kung fu techniques she has spent a decade mastering. Chinese martial arts have long been considered a male-dominated sphere, but a cohort of Generation Z women like Duan is challenging that assumption and generating publicity for their particular school of kung fu. “Since I was little, I’ve had a love for martial arts... I thought that girls learning martial arts was super swaggy,” Duan, 23, said. The ancient Emei school where she trains in the mountains of China’s Sichuan Province
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on Friday failed to attend in person an initial hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) as he faces crimes against humanity charges over his deadly crackdown on narcotics. The 79-year-old, the first ex-Asian head of state charged by the ICC, followed by video during a short hearing to inform him of the crimes he is alleged to have committed, as well as his rights as a defendant. Sounding frail and wearing a blue suit and tie, he spoke briefly to confirm his name and date of birth. Presiding Judge Iulia Motoc allowed him to
RSS