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"Ruining secularism in the name of protecting it

Ruining secularism in the name of protecting it

Demonstrators who took to the streets on Saturday to protest steps taken by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government to lift the headscarf ban in universities brought to mind similar protests during last year’s controversial presidential elections.

Nutty professor asks for atheist tyranny Mustafa Akyol

Rights group criticizes Turkish judiciary

A leading human rights group has criticized the Turkish judiciary, saying it issues "controversial rulings in defiance of international human rights law" and remains "lenient" towards security forces in sensitive cases involving accusations of abuse or misconduct.
"Turkish courts are notoriously lenient towards members of the security forces who are charged with abuse or misconduct, contributing to impunity and persistence of torture and the resort to lethal force," Human Rights Watch said in its annual report. "Many allegations of torture or killings in disputed circumstances never reach the courts and are not investigated."

Ömer Taşpınar:America and the headscarf


Two-thirds of Turks against ban, poll says

A bill by the government and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) to lift the headscarf ban in universities receives the backing of most Turks, however, most also believe it is not

University rectors’ anti-democratic approach a mere contradiction

Some university rectors have adopted an irritatingly caustic rhetoric regarding proposed amendments to ease the ban on the Muslim headscarf on university campuses, with one of them, geology professor Celal Şengör, even claiming that they will lock up the universities and leave if the headscarf ban is lifted.

Universities split on Turkish headscarf row

Turkey's higher education establishment appeared split over a government attempt to ease a campus ban on the wearing of the Muslim headscarf ahead of a parliamentary debate next week

University leaders oppose headscarf

A constitutional amendment on ending the headscarf ban in universities sparked a series of protests from both secularists and Islamists alike. Academics and rectors have mobilized to protest

US views Islamic headscarf as women's individual choice

The United States sees the issue of wearing the Islamic headscarf as an individual choice for Turkish women, but at the same time does not support the use of religious clothing for purposes

Declaring freedom in universities

As the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) agree on a constitutional change to lift a ban on the headscarf at universities, the dispute between those for the ban and those against it has intensified.

Posted by erkan on February 5, 2008 01:02 AM |

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