Women and veiling in Turkey:

The Legal aspects:

As Turkey has transformed into a more secular state (with its ultimate goal being complete secularization) the religious practice of veiling has been altered. “To stress the secular character of the state even more strongly, the principle of secularism was added to the constitution in 1937” (Ozdalga 1998, 19). The Turkish government has taken
steps to banish the religious tradition in places of public nature, thus ultimately prohibiting many women from having choice over this matter. “The most controversial issue on which official secularism has been challenged in recent times is the headscarf. All through the 1980’s, that problem was the issue around which secularism clashed with Islamism [...] After 1982, [...] regulations were made concerning [...] dress” (Ozdalga 1998, 37-39). Over time this form of “modernization” has transformed the practice of veiling, changing from the old malignant practice that hindered “women’s rights.”

The 1980's served as a large reform period for the regulations pertaining to the veil. In 1984 women were allowed to veil in universities as long as it coincided with what the authorities deemed acceptable and contemporary - this meant that a head scarf that covered one's head and shoulders was prohibited, but turbans, which tie behind the head, were allowed. These regulations ignited much debate over the matter, with questions such as: Why ban a certain type of veil and permit another? How does this help build a secular state?

With this debate, numbers of people veiling increased while groups aiming for a secular state were becoming more fierce (head of state General Kenan Evran heading this movement). Due to this clash the regulations already in place were tightened, and in the 1987 meeting in Adana this matter was discussed. Inevitably, the "moderating rule of two years earlier, permitting the use of the Turban, was withdrawn" (Ozdalga 1998, 43). Later, in 1989, this was overturned, and the decision as to whether or not students could veil in universities was left for the universities themselves to decide.

The election of the Islamic Welfare party, led by Necmettin Erbakan in 1995 sparked a chain of numerous events regarding the veil. A law was proposed in 1996 geared towards lifting the ban on the veil, only to be taken off the agenda. The issue surfaced again early in 1997, but the government decided that it was not the ideal arena for the matter of the veil to be decided upon. Therefore, in the end university students, in essense, may veil. However, faculty members of universities are excluded from this, and must remain unveiled, thus ruling out any sort of career in high education for those for chose to head cover (this holds true for lawyers, judges, etc ...).

Even as currently as November 2005 attempts to lift the ban have been attempted, and like all others, have failed.


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