This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7002324.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Turkish PM urges end to scarf ban | Turkish PM urges end to scarf ban |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the lifting of a ban on women wearing headscarves at state universities. | Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the lifting of a ban on women wearing headscarves at state universities. |
| Mr Erdogan told the UK's Financial Times the ban was depriving some women of the right to higher education. | Mr Erdogan told the UK's Financial Times the ban was depriving some women of the right to higher education. |
| The PM's Islamist-rooted AK Party began drafting a new constitution after its landslide election victory in July. | The PM's Islamist-rooted AK Party began drafting a new constitution after its landslide election victory in July. |
| The separation of religion and state enshrined in the current constitution is one of the key issues in the debate. | The separation of religion and state enshrined in the current constitution is one of the key issues in the debate. |
| Separately, US Under-Secretary of State Nicholas Burns has arrived in Turkey for talks. | |
| He is expected to discuss tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and possible operations against Kurdish rebel forces when he meets Mr Erdogan late on Wednesday. | |
| Symbol | Symbol |
| Mr Erdogan told the Financial Times that resolving the headscarf issue was a priority. | Mr Erdogan told the Financial Times that resolving the headscarf issue was a priority. |
| "The right to higher education cannot be restricted because of what a girl wears," he said. | "The right to higher education cannot be restricted because of what a girl wears," he said. |
| The wife of President Abdullah Gul wears a headscarf | The wife of President Abdullah Gul wears a headscarf |
| "There is no such problem in Western societies, but there is a problem in Turkey and I believe it is the first duty of those in politics to solve this problem." | "There is no such problem in Western societies, but there is a problem in Turkey and I believe it is the first duty of those in politics to solve this problem." |
| Mr Erdogan has been supported by President Abdullah Gul, a member of the AK Party until his election as head of state last month. | Mr Erdogan has been supported by President Abdullah Gul, a member of the AK Party until his election as head of state last month. |
| Mr Gul told the Milliyet newspaper: "It is much better for [women who are covered] to go to university than to stay home and be isolated from social life." | Mr Gul told the Milliyet newspaper: "It is much better for [women who are covered] to go to university than to stay home and be isolated from social life." |
| The wives and daughters of both men wear the headscarf. | The wives and daughters of both men wear the headscarf. |
| Turkey's secularist forces, including military and judicial leaders, oppose any moves they see as eroding the nation's secular system. | Turkey's secularist forces, including military and judicial leaders, oppose any moves they see as eroding the nation's secular system. |
| The headscarf has become a symbol of the threat to the continued separation of state governance and religion. | The headscarf has become a symbol of the threat to the continued separation of state governance and religion. |
| The university ban on headscarves was upheld in 2005 in the European Court of Human Rights, which said it might be needed to safeguard the secular order. | The university ban on headscarves was upheld in 2005 in the European Court of Human Rights, which said it might be needed to safeguard the secular order. |
| Mr Erdogan has always said his government will respect the separation. | Mr Erdogan has always said his government will respect the separation. |
| Summer of turmoil | Summer of turmoil |
| The current constitution evolved from the 1980 military coup and many politicians want to redraw it to bring it more into line with current standards of democracy. | The current constitution evolved from the 1980 military coup and many politicians want to redraw it to bring it more into line with current standards of democracy. |
| "We want a constitution that is going to provide and protect a state that is a democratic, secular, social state of law," Mr Erdogan told the Financial Times. | "We want a constitution that is going to provide and protect a state that is a democratic, secular, social state of law," Mr Erdogan told the Financial Times. |
| Turkey endured a summer of political turmoil with secularist politicians organising mass demonstrations to try to block Mr Gul's presidential bid. | Turkey endured a summer of political turmoil with secularist politicians organising mass demonstrations to try to block Mr Gul's presidential bid. |
| The stand-off triggered the snap elections in July. | The stand-off triggered the snap elections in July. |
Previous version
1
Next version