Turkish Women MPs Wear Islamic Veils in Parliament for First Time

Nurcan Dalbudak in Turkish Parliament

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Secular country breaks important taboo following decades-long ban on the headscarf from public buildings

Turkey's parliament allowed female MPs to wear the Islamic veil for the first time yesterday, breaking an important taboo in the secular country.

For decades, the headscarf was banned from public buildings, but the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has steadily reduced this prohibition. Since Sept 30, female civil servants have been allowed to wear the veil - and this has now extended to parliament.

Four veiled MPs from AKP were duly allowed to go about their duties in parliament. "There is nothing in parliamentary bylaws that stands as an obstacle to this," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister. "Everyone should respect our sisters' decision." » | David Blair | Thursday, October 31, 2013

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