Lifting the ban

by Peter Grimsditch March 7, 2008

written by Peter Grimsditch March 7, 2008

One of the best-selling English-language books on Turkish politics is Turkey Unveiled by Nicola and Hugh Pope. Any updates may make them question the title. On February 9, Meclis (the Turkish parliament) voted through constitutional changes lifting the ban on wearing headscarves in public universities by 411 votes in the 550-seat house. To get the required two-thirds majority, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) controversially depended on the support of the ultranationalist National Action Party (MHP), the third largest group in parliament. What was in it for the MHP has not yet been revealed. While opinion polls say the move is supported by more than 60% of the electorate, the headscarf has been a point of bitter contention between Islamists of all stripes, and ardent secularists, who include the influential army and the largest opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which traces its lineage back to Ataturk. For

Peter Grimsditch

Journalist, editor, and author Peter Grimsditch’s career began at his college's student publication and led him to become the founding editor of Britain’s Daily Star. He later worked in New York and Turkey as as a correspondent, eventually becoming the No. 2 editor at Lebanon’s Daily Star before inheriting the editorship.

Lifting the ban

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