*HRW Slams Turkey Hijab Ruling*
Sat. June 7, 2008
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_Ccid=1212666061742pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout
[image: Image]
*HRW said the court ruling forces Turkish women to choose between their
faith and education. (Reuters)*
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_Ccid=1212666061742pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout
ANKARA — Amid calls to curtail the powers of Turkey's Constitutional Court
over its ruling annulling a constitutional reform bill easing ban on hijab
in universities, Human Rights Watch on Saturday, June 7, denounced the
verdict as a violation of religious freedom.
This decision means that women who choose to wear a headscarf in Turkey
will be forced to choose between their religion and education, Holly
Cartner, Europe and Central Asia Director at HRW, said in a statement cited
by Reuters.
This is truly disappointing and does not bode well for the reform process.
The Constitutional Court, Turkey's highest court, on Thursday, June 5,
annulled a constitutional reform bill easing restrictions on hijab on
campus.
The Constitutional Court decision is direct interference in parliament's
legislative power, AK deputy chairman Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat told
reporters after an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan on Friday.
This is an open violation of the principle of separation of powers.
The parliament passed last February a constitutional change allowing
students to cover their heads only with traditional scarves tied loosely
under the chin. Veils covering the neck remained banned.
The opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) petitioned the Court, whose
verdicts can't be appealed, to scrap the amendment.
Many universities defied the law, refusing to allow students to don hijab,
an obligatory code of dress in Islam.
Hijab has been banned in public buildings, universities, schools and
government buildings in Muslim-majority Turkey since shortly after a 1980
military coup.
*Violation*
The court ruling also drew fire as a violation of the Turkish
Constitution. This
decision has raised questions over the separation of powers, said
parliament speaker Koksal Toptan.
It has led to serious concern over the development of our democracy, added
Toptan, who hails from the ruling AK party.
The Constitutional Court made a decision about the contents of this law
passed by 411 deputies of our parliament even though the constitution
clearly states the court can only carry out procedural examinations.
The speaker suggested drafting a new constitution and establishing a senate
in addition to a parliament to trim the powers of the Constitutional Court. I
believe it will be beneficial to debate a new constitution and the bicameral
system, he said.
The Turkish parliament was bicameral under the 1961 constitution, but became
unicameral again under the 1982 constitution, a legacy of a 1980 military
coup. Such a system will reduce the load on the Constitutional Court and
allow it to work more comfortably, said Toptan.
The burden of the Constitutional Court may ease in a two-chamber system.
The government has not commented on the senate proposal.
Turkish TV quoted the staunchly secularist, main opposition party CHP
Chairman Deniz Baykal as rejecting such a move.
The CHP would not be able to block it on its own and it was not immediately
clear how other parties would respond.
*Related Links:*
Turkish Court Annuls Hijab
Lawhttp://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_Ccid=1212666031153pagename=Zone-English-News%2FNWELayout
Turkey's Delayed Hijab
Dreamhttp://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_Ccid=1203759015320pagename=Zone-English-News%2FNWELayout
Turkish Campuses Fail Hijab Test
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_Ccid=1203757440638pagename=Zone-English-News%2FNWELayout
Turkey Secularists Protest Hijab
Lifthttp://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_Ccid=1201957527256pagename=Zone-English-News%2FNWELayout
Turkey's Hijab Dilemma Intensifies
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_Ccid=1199279699807pagename=Zone-English-News%2FNWELayout
Turkish Court Considers AKP
Banhttp://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_Ccid=1203758585387pagename=Zone-English-News%2FNWELayout
Why wear Hijab? http://www.jannah.org/sisters/hijab2.html
Hijab Protects http://www.jannah.org/sisters/hijab_protect.html
Hijab- Questions and Answers http://www.jannah.org/sisters/hijabfaq.html
Liberation by the Veil http://www.jannah.org/sisters/hijbene.html
Hijab: A lesson to be learned http://www.jannah.org/sisters/sultana.html
Only For Allah http://www.jannah.org/sisters/hijabidentity.html
My Body is My Own Business http://www.jannah.org/sisters/naheed.html
The War of the Women http://www.jannah.org/sisters/warwomen.html
Thinking about Hijab...some steps to consider?
http://www.jannah.org/sisters/hijabthink.html
Some advice to a young sis who wants to wear hijab
