Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has proposed a referendum on a constitutional amendment that would guarantee women’s right to wear headscarves in state institutions, schools and universities. “If you have the courage … we will put the issue in a referendum,” Erdogan said on television yesterday.
The head of state was reacting to statements made by opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the secular CHP party. Kilicdaroglu recently proposed a law guaranteeing the right to wear headscarves.
The veil debate has reignited in Turkey in light of the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for next year. On his initiative, the CHP leader wanted to allay concerns that his party could reintroduce the headscarf ban if he won the election. “We’ve made mistakes in the past about the veil,” admitted Kilicdaroglu.