Turkey: headscarf wrangle

This week the Republican People's Party (CHP), the party which sees it self as guardian of the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the country's founder, may petition the Constitutional Court to strike down a constitutional amendment to end a ban on Islamic headscarves in universities, which parliament is likely to have passed by the time of publication.

It is quite likely that the judges, many of whom share this self-appointed role, will oblige, as they did last summer over the presidential vote, thereby blocking the candidacy of Abdullah Gul, the candidate of the Justice and Development Party (AKP).  However it proved to be only a temporary reprieve, as the AKP swept the ensuing elections and successfully pushed through Gul's candidacy. 

It is quite possible that the second constitutional crisis in a year will end in much the same way.  The AKP has a strong popular mandate and public opinion on its side on this issue, along with considerable unofficial support in the EU, on what it is presenting as an issue of freedom of expression. 

Its opponents see it as the thin end of the wedge, not only undermining Turkey's strict separation of state and religion, but also as part of a secret AKP agenda to introduce Islamic rule into Turkey.  They too may have a point.  This reform is limited to the sphere of higher education and only permits the wearing of the headscarf tied under the chin which was a familiar sight in the West until recently.  It is quite possible that grass roots pressure from the pious conservatives who form the bedrock of the AKP's support, will push for enlargement of the relaxation to Islamic headscarves and to other institutions such as high schools and government offices.