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Changes Must be Made in Constitution to Cancel Prohibition to Wear Hejab – Experts

Politics Materials 4 June 2008 12:12 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, 4 June / Trend corr. S.Ilhamgizi, R.Hafizoglu / According to experts, the changes are necessary to make into the Constitution in order to cancel the 20 years long prohibition imposed on women to attend the state and training institutions in hejab (head cover). "The problem regarding hejab can be settled only after making changes into the Constitution of Turkey," Altan Tan, Turkish expert, told Trend .

On 5 June, the Turkish Constitutional Court will consider the issue to retain or cancel the prohibition imposed on wearing of hejab in state and training institutions. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) demands to cancel the prohibition, but opposition -to retain it.

Tan, the independent expert, believes that the Constitutional Court will not positively respond to cancel the prohibition. The present government will not succeed to cancel the prohibition to wear hejab. "The prohibition can be removed only after introducing changes into the Constitution, which is not easy to do. The opposition will negatively reflect on the possible changes into the Constitution," Tan said via a telephone from Istanbul.

According to the expert, if the issue regarding wearing of hejab will not be tackled then it may lead to polarization between religious and secular peoples, that will strike the national interests and democratic values of Turkey," the expert said.

"If the Constitutional Court will take a decision to cancel the prohibition imposed on wear of hejab, then it will be AKP's victory, as well as the lawsuit to close the party will also lose its sense," Mustafa Ozcan, Turkish expert, told Trend .

The opposition Republic Popular Party (RPP) of Turkey has made a court appeal to close AKP due to its demand to cancel the prohibition to wear hejab. Ozcan considers that if the court denies the lawsuit by RPP then it will lead to cancellation of this prohibition

According to the political scientist, the issues concerning wearing of hejab and close of AKP are disputable issues and it may lead to tension of situation in Turkey. "The opposition demand to close AKP. However, if the Constitutional Court will cancel the prohibition then it will be AKP's victory and unambiguously will lead to tension of situation in the country," Ozcan said.

About 60 or 70% of the Turkish population considers that women should be given freedom to wear hejab. Ozcan said that if the Constitutional Court will take into consideration the majority then the Turkish population will be thankful.

There are 182 types of secular laws and the most radical secular laws are used in Turkey. France, being a secular country, renders freedom to wear hejab in state and training institutions.

The secular principle should be re-considered in Turkey. If Turkey will cancel the prohibition imposed on wear of hejab and simultaneously will use the current secular laws then there will not be any problems or intension," Ozcan stated.

The correspondent can be contacted at: [email protected]

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