New York Times . türkiye

February 8, 2008

THE West doesn’t know quite what to think of Turkey’s Islamic-oriented ruling party: does it envision a liberal, European future for Turkey or an Islamist one? A vote this week on the seemingly minor issue of whether head scarves should be allowed at universities will help us begin to answer that question.

Turkey’s Parliament Lifts Scarf Ban

Umit Bektas/Reuters

Secular Turks seeking to keep a head scarf ban protested Saturday in Ankara, some with photos of the republic’s founder, Ataturk.

SABRINA TAVERNISE

ISTANBUL — Parliament took a major step on Saturday toward lifting a ban against women’s head scarves at universities, setting the stage for a final showdown with Turkey’s secular elite over where Islam fits in the building of an open society.