Turkey headscarf ban lifted

on Saturday, December 1, 2012

Turkey is a secular state and being a secular state the government should be neutral in all matters regarding religion. Big nations like the U.S., Canada and China allow their citizens to follow and practice their faith. The ban placed by a country like France, where Muslim children are not allowed to wear headscarves in public schools, has been fought over constantly. At the time in 2002, the ban threatened to eliminate a widespread religious symbol of Islam. However, the ban was put into place because there were no Muslims in power in France, unlike Turkey where many citizens are Muslims and there are many Muslim politicians.

On Tuesday, the most recent law proclaimed that in the coming school semester of 2013/2014, female students at public schools will be allowed to wear headscarves during Qur’an lessons. This newest reform was part of a law which also banned school uniforms with a modern set of courses for children ranging from the age of 11 as a substitute of 15. The Turkish Prime Minister, Erdogan, said at the news conference in Madrid that these action are taken on demand.

Turkey headscarf ban

After the sweeping victory of the AK party in the 2010 elections, the mildly conservative party lifted the ban on female students wearing hijab  headscarves in schools providing religious education. This is drawing criticism from the secular parties that are putting forward the Islamic agenda. There has always been differences of opinion between the conservationists and the liberal parties regarding education. The secular party accuses Prime Minister Erdogan of imposing religion. Education sector union stated that by spreading religious obligations and lifestyle it would put a negative impact on minds of the students. Since Turkey is a secular state and consists of majority Muslims, everyone in this country is free to practice their own faith or religion.



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