Turkish civil society divided by the headscarf ban

Abstract

The headscarf ban at universities and public offices in Turkey caused many debates over women's rights and freedoms. Civil society organizations, which are known as agents of democratization, have been an important part of these debates. Drawing on the literature on the relationship between civil society, democracy, and Islam, this article investigates how Islamic, Kemalist secular, and non-Kemalist secular organizations support their stance towards the headscarf ban and react to critical developments regarding the ban. The discourse of the organizations is analysed using their press releases and in-depth interviews with the presidents of the organizations. By declaring the headscarf as anti-secular, anti-modern, and oppressive, Kemalist secular organizations reproduce official state ideology. The various ways in which Islamic organizations frame their stance on the headscarf issue on the other hand suggest that Islamic organizations could be just as democratic as many other secular movements. Furthermore, the fact that non-Kemalist secular organizations are critical of the headscarf ban makes them much closer to Islamic organizations than Kemalist secular organizations.

Invigorating Democracy in Turkey: The Agency of Organized Islamist Women

“…Islamist women are one of the well-studied women's groups in Turkey. The research on organized Islamist women identifies the characteristics and boundaries of their activism and points to hindrances they face within the civil society and political arena (Akboğa 2013; Arat 1998; Göle 1996; Kadıoğlu 2005; Marshall 2005; Ozcetin 2009; Turam 2008). Scholars argued that the Islamist women's activism has contested the notions of secularism, religiosity, national identity, and feminism and brought about a variety of discursive and cultural debates in Turkey (Arat 1998; Marshall 2005; Ozcetin 2009; Saktanber 2002).…”

“…In 1996, the RP, as the coalition partner, pronounced that female employees could cover their heads in the ministries the RP controlled and proposed a bill to lift the headscarf ban in universities (Akboğa 2013, 3). This caused a serious political crisis in Turkey.…”

“…The AKP has thereby avoided using religious references and put the issue as a matter of civil liberties. Despite the objections from the secularist parliamentarians, the Turkish Parliament passed the proposal for the constitutional change that allowed headscarf wearing at universities (Akboğa 2013; Arat 2010; Turam 2008). Secularist segments of CS were in an uproar over this law and demonstrated to demand the resignation of the AKP government.…”

“…One of the central concerns of Islamist women's activism has been the removal of the headscarf ban in public universities and institutions (Akboga 2013;Arat 2008;Marshall 2005;Seckinelgin 2006). 2 Islamist women have extensively worked on raising consciousness about religion-based discrimination against women.…”

“…Islamist women's CSOs in Turkey, which were formed in the 1990s by veiled middle- and upper-middle class women in urban centers, have encouraged women to have education and to participate in social and economic life with their headscarves. One of the central concerns of Islamist women's activism has been the removal of the headscarf ban in public universities and institutions (Akboğa 2013; Arat 2008; Marshall 2005; Seckinelgin 2006). 2 Islamist women have extensively worked on raising consciousness about religion-based discrimination against women.…”