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Analytics: Headscarf abyss dividing Turkey into two parts

<font color=red>Analytics:</font> Headscarf abyss dividing Turkey into two parts

08 February 2008 11:27 (UTC +04:00)

Turkish parliament paved the way for new political crisis by adopting the constitutional amendment allowing women to wear Islamic headscarves in universities in the first reading.

The event, which caused great separation of the history of Turkish Republic, actually divided the society into two parts â€“ those who protest against womenâ€™s wearing headscarves in the universities and those who support this idea. Turkish society is no more characterized as a nation developed basing on such political trends as leftist, rightist, central, nationalist, radical religious, pro-Kurdish, conservative, liberal etc, the separation has a concrete line â€“ headscarf. AKP and MHP are on one side of the abyss called headscarf and leftist and rightist political parties are on the other side. The problem of headscarf has also become the factor that will determine the results of forthcoming municipal elections. The results of municipal elections will be determined basing on this measurement unit â€“ the supporters of secular model will vote for the candidates of leftist and rightist parties and those who take into account religious views will vote for AKP and MHP candidates.

The results of the elections held in the recent years show that there are more religious voters in Turkey and this figure is increasing, therefore the votes of religious electorate will play decisive role in the municipal elections. Political parties pay more attention on municipal elections in Turkey. The results of municipal elections determine the results of the next parliamentary or presidential elections. The parties pave the way to their success in the parliamentary elections by taking more seats in municipal elections. Therefore, in order to strengthen its positions weakened because of terrorist acts and activeness of PKK, AKP raised the issue of headscarf before the municipal elections, the elections when direct contact with ordinary voters is important.

Of course, change of balance of political forces in favor of AKP after the recent parliamentary elections also played an important role in including the problem of headscarf into the agenda. Election of Abdullah Gul (there is no more possibility that the law adopted in the parliament cannot be approved by the president), and representation of MHP in the parliament, which along with AKP has a sensitive approach to the religious issues, created favorable conditions for the ruling party to reach its targets.

One of the interesting questions is that why MHP supports amendments allowing women to wear Islamic headscarves in universities. This is a surprising issue at first sight, but MHP is a religious party for its electorate in Turkey. MHP has never used religion during its political activity and religion was not striking in the image of this party. Headscarf is an actual problem now and MHP is in a dilemma. Nationalists should either lost several votes in municipal elections protesting against proposal of AKP or run away from forces supporting the secular state model of Turkey.
MHP has losses and success in both cases. Protesting against headscarf may cause serious dissatisfaction in electorate of MHP and this electorate may incline to other forces in municipal elections. The support of this idea will be completed by running away from forces supporting secular state model of Turkey and then the party can be wined the image of â€œparty cooperating with AKPâ€.MHP will loose in both cases. The party was in a dilemma between public opinion and electorate and the party chose the second version. MHP will win additional vote by this way. If MHP leadership supports AKP, there will be a separation in party and it is doubtless that opposition in the party will be active.
We analyze the purpose, position of parties on headscarf. How will adoption of amendments to Constitution influence to the country? Headscarf was the main problem that interests of religious and secular forces contradicted for along time. Last step of AKP assesses as a defeat of secular forces. Further processes in the country are intended to be developed in the form of open confrontation, according to psychology of winners and vanquished.
Turkish higher schools are considered to be one of the political confrontations. Adoption of bill will cause the confrontation of supports and protesters of headscarves and the confrontation will influence to other fields of society. This bill may cause armyâ€™s concrete position. Amendments to Constitution may be accompanied by the events meaning Turkish defeat, not only defeat of concrete party.