Turkey: Headscarf Ruling Denies Women Education and Career

(New York, November 16, 2005)-The European Court of Human Rights decision to uphold the Turkish government's headscarf ban will deny thousands of women access to higher education and a professional life in Turkey, said Human Rights Watch today. Last Thursday, the court's Grand Chamber rejected the appeal of Leyla Şahin, who had hoped to qualify as a medical doctor in Turkey, but was banned from medical school after she refused to remove her headscarf. She was ultimately forced to study abroad.

"Turkey's ban on headscarves clearly infringes the right to religious practice and expression," said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The European Court has let down thousands of women who will be prevented from studying in Turkey's universities."

Read the whole story on Reuters

See also

• PM Erdogan says turban matter should be left to religious leaders (Hürriyet)
• Veil rising from AK Party's 'Islamic guise' (The New Anatolian)
• CHP Izmir Deputy Canan Aritman charges: ‘Polygamy is widespread among AK Party members' (The New Anatolian)