Post date: Oct 08, 2013 8:33:20 PM
NVO - A decades-old restriction on women wearing headscarves in state institutions is lifted in Turkey.
On Tuesday Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan spoke in Parliament.
TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, TAYYIP ERDOGAN:
"With the amendment to the regulations on employees' appearances, a painful ban that has caused a lot of suffering to the parents of young people is lifted. A dark era has come to an end. But I want to reiterate that we are not offering privileges to anybody. On the contrary, we are finally recognizing the right to believe for those who have been deprived of this for years."The debate around the head scarf goes to the heart of tensions between religious and secular elites, a major fault line in Turkish public life.
One teacher is thrilled with the change.
TEACHER AT VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, SAFIYE OZDEMIR:
"We are very happy and we are very proud of the regulation. This amendment came a little late, actually very late but we are still happy."
For Turkey's secular elite, the headscarf ruling undermines Turkey's secular institutions.
ISTANBUL RESIDENT, ILKNUR COKBELGIT:
"This is not good. I can't even imagine a civic officer wearing a headscarf. This was not the right decision to take and I don't approve of it at all."
The new rules go into effect immediately.