Turkey: Court backs headscarf ban. (reject, America, religion, muslims)

[Jayhawker Soule]

From the BBC News - World Edition

Court backs Turkish headscarf ban

Turkey can ban Islamic headscarves in universities, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled.

The court rejected an appeal by a Turkish woman who argued that the state ban violated her right to an education and discriminated against her.

Leyla Sahin had brought the case in 1998 after being excluded from class at Istanbul University.

But the judges ruled that the ban was justified to maintain order and avoid giving preference to any religion.

Although overwhelmingly Muslim, Turkey is a secular republic and the Islamic headscarf is banned in all universities and official buildings.

The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says the verdict will have a major impact, as more than 1,000 other women from Turkey have filed similar applications.

I find this disturbing.

[Bright-ness' Shadow]

I'm not so much disturbed as I am surprized. But is does seem to be a growing trend and quite apart from the American model

[robtex]

I wonder if Turkey's strong drive towards secularitism is a reaction to the theocracies of middle eastern countries particulary Saudi?

[Ori]

It's not only disturbing, but quite sad.
Here in Cardiff we have a strong Muslim community, and more arrive each year as students, I think they wouldn't abide by such rules here and I wouldn't blame them.

[Green Gaia]

I don't understand why they would ban the headscarf. To the non-Muslim it's just a piece of clothing. Are non-Muslims allowed to wear a headscarf if it is for non-religious reasons (i.e. a bad hair day)? Muslims are the majority in Turkey, are they not? I have to wonder if this is really about banning religious garments or keeping women out of the universities.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by robtex

I wonder if Turkey's strong drive towards secularitism is a reaction to the theocracies of middle eastern countries particulary Saudi?

It's my understanding that the roots of secularism in Turkey go back to at least the 1920's. I don't think it's so much a reaction to the theocracies of the Middle East, as it is a reaction to the rise of secular Europe.

[robtex]

Originally Posted by Maize

II have to wonder if this is really about banning religious garments or keeping women out of the universities.

What would the country gain by that?

[Jaymes]

I don't understand how headscarves can disturb 'order.' Was it neon with flashing lights or something? If something like a headscarf disturbs order, why don't brightly colored clothes? Or strange hairstyles? Perhaps everyone should just wear a uniform and their hair a certain way.