BBC: Turkey's main opposition leader and military officials have failed to attend the Republic Day reception hosted by President Abdullah Gul [sic].
Mr Gul [sic] had decided to allow his wife to wear the Islamic headscarf at the event in Ankara. In previous years he had held two separate receptions.
The fiercely secular army held its own reception, just before the president's.
Mr Gul's [sic] move is seen as a symbolic challenge to restrictions on wearing the scarf in public.
It also reflects the government's growing confidence that it can overturn the restrictions, correspondents say.
The Supreme Court recently has warned their relaxation violated the constitution.
Women are currently forbidden from covering their heads in many universities and all government offices, but few universities are complying and the education ministry says it will back any student flouting the ban.
President Gul [sic] had in the past held two receptions, so secular officials and military staff would not have to shake hands with his headscarf-wearing wife, Hayrunnisa. 'Creeping Islamisation' >>> | Saturday, October 30, 2010
