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Turkish MPs plan headscarf reform Turkish MPs plan headscarf reform
(about 2 hours later)
Two major parties in Turkey say they will submit a joint plan to parliament to ease a ban on the Islamic headscarf in universities.Two major parties in Turkey say they will submit a joint plan to parliament to ease a ban on the Islamic headscarf in universities.
The Islamist-rooted governing AK Party and the nationalist MHP say it is an issue of human rights and freedoms.The Islamist-rooted governing AK Party and the nationalist MHP say it is an issue of human rights and freedoms.
The two parties have enough votes in parliament to overturn the constitutional ban on headscarves.The two parties have enough votes in parliament to overturn the constitutional ban on headscarves.
Headscarves were banned in schools and universities in 1980 after a coup by the pro-secular armed forces.Headscarves were banned in schools and universities in 1980 after a coup by the pro-secular armed forces.
'Concession' This is a controversial matter in a mainly Muslim country whose secular elite - including the military - sees the scarf as a symbol of political Islam, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says.
MHP leader Devlet Bahceli said the joint plan would be submitted to parliament later on Tuesday, Reuters reported. The move has been criticised by judges and university officials.
"Under this plan, the [woman's] face must remain open and so a person will not be permitted to conceal her identity," Mr Bahceli said. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli said the joint plan would be submitted to parliament later on Tuesday.
The measure will reportedly lift the ban on the traditional headscarf tied under the woman's chin - in what could be seen as a concession to secularist concerns. Chadors, veils and burkas will not be allowed - no-one will be allowed to use headscarves as political statements against the state Devlet Bahceli, MHP leader
The wrap-round headscarf - seen as a symbol of political Islam - will continue to be banned. "Solving the headscarf issue would relax a large segment of the society," Mr Bahceli was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.
On Monday, the MHP and the AKP said they had agreed details of the measure, which has been criticised by judges and university officials. "It is a question of rights and freedoms," he added.
The reforms are a compromise though, our correspondent says.
The proposed changes state that only traditional scarves will be permitted in universities, tied loosely under the chin.
Headscarves that cover the neck, like those worn by many Turkish girls, will still be banned, as will the all-covering burka, or chador.
Power struggle
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stressed that this reform will be restricted to universities.
It will not apply to women civil servants, including teachers, who are still banned from covering their heads.
A power struggle last year between secular forces and the governing AK Party ended with the AKP being comprehensively re-elected in July.A power struggle last year between secular forces and the governing AK Party ended with the AKP being comprehensively re-elected in July.
So far, there has been no comment from Turkey's powerful army, which sees itself as the guardian of the secular tradition laid out by Kemal Ataturk - the creator of the modern Turkish state.So far, there has been no comment from Turkey's powerful army, which sees itself as the guardian of the secular tradition laid out by Kemal Ataturk - the creator of the modern Turkish state.
Opinion polls suggest there is strong public support for lifting the ban. And some women refuse to go to university because of it.Opinion polls suggest there is strong public support for lifting the ban. And some women refuse to go to university because of it.