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To Veil Or Not To Veil |
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Freelance writer Jules Clarke touches upon the
headscarf issue in Turkey
So, you’ve decided to pack your bags, ignore the travel warnings, throw
caution to the wind and take a trip to Turkey eh? Welcome. “Turkiye” (in
Turkish), meaning the Land of the Turks, is a crossroads and way station
between Europe and Asia and somewhat displaced in its current position as it
struggles for identity with its eclectic mix of western culture and
predominantly Islamic population.
Where does a country begin when the history dates back as far as the
Hattians? How did a contemporary society evolve from an historical bridge
dating back to great civilisations such as the Hittites, Lycians, Persians,
the Hellenistic people, Romans and Ottomans?
How do you mix western thinking into Islamic principles? Around 98 per cent
of Turkey’s population is Muslim, however, Turkish laws and other social
structures are not based on Islamic principles. Turkey is a secular modern
republic, which came into force in October 1923 by Mustafa Kemal ‘Ataturk’
(see page 24) - the Father of the Turks.
Ataturk devised political, economic and social reforms in order to bring
Turkey into the modern world. He believed that by westernising the country,
they would better be able to compete economically and socially with other
westernised nations.
There are however, ongoing debates in regards to traditional values as
opposed to modern belief systems. Westernization is another facet of the
Turkish makeup, and while some would prefer to keep with tradition, the
country as a whole, wants to move forward in line with its western
counterparts.
However, accepting the ways of the west also means
accepting democracy and with democracy, comes all sorts of other issues.
Take the headscarf for one.
After Turkey became a secular state, the headscarf or veil (in line with the
FEZ hat) was banned. Western style clothing was introduced and women were
given equal rights, with the right to vote and be elected into parliament.
For some however, the wearing of the veil represents a woman’s right to
practice her own religion freely - something that has been anchored in the
country’s democratic constitution since the foundation of modern Turkey over
80 years ago. For others, headscarf is a symbol of religious fanaticism and
the oppression of women.
Around two-thirds of Turkish women wear the headscarf, however despite this,
it is banned in all government offices, Parliament, universities and
secondary schools, which means that for some, they are being forced to
choose between education and their faith.
Despite these ongoing social and political issues, it is easy to see that
modern day Turks are unified in their attempt to shape different cultures
and ethnic origins. This is evident in cities such as Istanbul. The
culmination of traditional and modern day dress with funky headscarves is
evident everywhere. Streets are lined with incredible architecture together
with ramshackle wooden houses and cobbled lanes crisscrossed with
clotheslines that loom high above the ground. Its art, lustrous restaurants
and groovy bars, combined with traditional Kahve (coffee houses for men
only) and frenzied street markets confirm this unification.
Despite this unification however, the headscarf issue will continue to be
debated for some time, as Turkey continues in its quest to find itself
religiously, economically and politically, while not losing sight of its
tradition, which is ingrained into its core existence.
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