Turkey lifts headscarf ban in schools for girls as young as 10

Rasa - The Turkish government is now allowing girls as young as ten years old to cover their hair while attending school.

News ID: 1215

Date: 24 September 2014 - 10:13

RNA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who co-founded the ruling Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP), has long been accused by opponents of eroding the secular values of the modern Turkish state.

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, a close Erdogan ally, said that an amendment was made to the dress code regulations for female students to say they will not be forced to keep their heads uncovered.

The Islamic headscarf or hijab, known as charshaf in Turkey and several other states in southeast Europe, is worn by female Muslims.

The ban, which has now been lifted, had been applied in the country for decades, according to values outlined by the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. These principles were based on a strict separation between the state and religion.

According to Arinc, the changes were made after long hours of discussion, but "female students have yearned" for the end of the ban. He added that the amendment was necessary to meet the conditions of a series of democratic reforms, announced in Turkey a year ago.

As part of this plan, a ban on hijabs for state university students and female civil servants was also previously lifted.

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