Rebecca Hauser/Human Rights/April 14
Turkey is one of the most complex countries that I have ever studied. This article directly resembles my claim of complexity. Though the country is 99 percent Muslim, the government claims itself to be secular from religion. The two concepts, Muslim and a secular government, are contradictory in themselves. The two just do not seem to fit. Traditionally, there was a ban against wearing head scarves to universities and schools. Recently, this ban was lifted. For many people, this was a blessing. Some Muslim women felt that they were finally liberated and free to practice their religion without the saying of the government or their school. These women feel that as a member of their religion, they must practice their religion correctly, which includes wearing traditional Muslim dress while studying and attending school. Other people in the country feel that by lifting this ban, the country is taking a step backwards to the "dark ages."
I am unsure of how to feel on this issue. It is very complex and and a Christian, it is hard for me to take a definate side. I believe in the freedom of religion, therefore I feel that these women should be allowed to wear whatever it is that they feel necessary to observe their religion the "correct" way. Though some people feel that this directly relates to the government, I do not see the correlation. In my opinion, the government should have nothing to do with religion, which I think is something that Turkey is trying achieve. Many of the people living in this country feel that it will be years before this issue is completely resolved. I hope that despite how much time it takes, it will be resolved peacefully.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=4647054
3 comments:
Well i certainly think having the freedom to choose is the right choice in this case, however I would be wary to ask if those choices are the ones that are being chosen by the women, or if they are the product of nominal Islamic Cultural norms.
I too think it is a little odd that the government is attempting to separate church and a state in a country which has a very strong religious influence. But I believe there will always be a battle of old thinking versus new thinking. Some people think that Muslim women must hate wearing that attire but these women in fact are proud of their traditions. I think it is great the schools lifted the ban on head scarves so now women can have the freedom to choose their way of dress.
I think that these women should have the freedom to choice which religion they follow, and how they follow it. I don't think it should be the governments choice to say when, where, and how these women can practice their faith. I don't see the harm in letting them wear their headscarves in schools. It is simply a matter of new versus old, eventually I think people will demand change.
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