Islamic Human Rights Commission

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14.10.97

FASCISM COMES TO THE FORE IN TURKEY AGAIN
Female students, women’s groups and human rights campaigners protest against renewed headscarf ban

IHRC strongly condemns the latest attempts by the Turkish regime to discriminate against Muslim women at every level.

Turkey has renewed its headscarf ban for female Muslim students in university. Istanbul University is currently the scene of student sit-ins by women whom university authorities refused to register, because of their Islamic dress.

This is just the latest in a string of cases in the last few years, where the authorities have either legislated or sanctioned the dismissal of women who wear Islamic dress from teaching, medical and other posts, as well as expelling students who refuse to remove their Islamic dress.

The Islamic Human Rights Commission said:

“Whilst Turkey tries to be the darling of Europe, its internal human rights record leaves a lot to be desired. The new administration admits it is the result of a ‘soft coup’ by army generals alarmed at the policies of the last government. Its policies towards Muslim women have shown without a doubt that its basic nature is Fascist.”

IHRC will be campaigning for the lifting of the ban. For more information, please contact the Press Office on 0181 931 1919, 0958 60 74 75 or 0958 522 196.