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

Verwandt »

Turkey Parliament Curtails Army Powers

BBC: Turkey's parliament has amended the code governing the armed forces, curtailing their political influence.

The original rules gave the military responsibility of preserving the Republic of Turkey, a clause previously used as a justification for coups.

It now says the army's main duty is to protect the nation from foreign threat.

The military has long regarded itself as the protector of Turkey's secular tradition and has staged three coups between 1960 and 1980.

But it has a history of tension with the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. » | Saturday, July 13, 2013

Obama: America Not Christian - But Islam Shaped It For The Better
RIGHT SIDE NEWS: The we-do-not-consider-ourselves-a-Christian-nation line in Obama's speech to the Turkish parliament reminds me of an old joke: The Lone Ranger and Tonto are surrounded by hostile Indians. The masked man turns to his faithful companion and asks: "What are we going to do now, Tonto?" His sidekick replies: "What you mean we, pale face?"

Like others on the left, Obama has an unfortunate habit of projecting his delusions onto the American people.

He was in Turkey as part of his recently concluded America-sucks tour, during which he pandered shamelessly to Euro Anti-Americanism. ("We've been arrogant and we promise not to torture terrorists ever again and to always listen to the ‘allies' who almost lost two World Wars the Cold War. And, have I said how sorry I am for Wounded Knee in the last 15 seconds?")

In the overwhelmingly Muslim country, Barack Hussein Obama, as he was introduced (now that the election's over, it's okay to use his middle name), declared the concept of "Christian America" a myth. >>> By Don Feder | Tuesday, April 14, 2009

President Barack Obama Rejects Allegations that US at War with Islam
THE TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama has declared that "the United States is not and will never be at war with Islam" and spoken of his "deep appreciation for the Islamic faith" in a speech to Turkey's parliament.

The US leader was introduced to the parliament as 'Barack Hussein Obama' . Photo courtesy of The Telegraph
"So let me say this as clearly as I can: the United States is not and will never be at war with Islam," he said.

Many Americans "have lived in a Muslim-majority country – I know, because I am one of them" Obama, on the first stop of a two-day trip to Turkey, his first as president to a Muslim country, said earlier that the U.S. and Turkey can forge a "model partnership" that bridges the religious and cultural divide between the western world and the predominantly Muslim east.

The US leader was introduced to the parliament as "Barack Hussein Obama"

In a speech that celebrated the cultural ties and shared history between American and Turkey, Obama said their alliance has made the world "more secure." He pledged to give U.S. support to combat the "terrorist activities" of the Kurdish separatist movement, the PKK, winning applause from lawmakers. The U.S. is prepared to be a partner to help work through the issue of Armenian massacres in 1915, and "strongly supports" Turkish membership of the European Union, Obama said. >>> By Toby Harnden in Ankara | Monday, April 6, 2009

WATCH GUARDIAN VIDEO:
Our partnership with the Muslim world is critical, says Barack Obama: US president tells Turkish parliament US is not and never will be at war with Islam >>> | Monday, April 6, 2009

TELEGRAPH BLOGS – Iain Martin: Barack Obama Really Does Go On a Bit

Isn't it time for him to go home yet? It is good, in theory, that the new President of the United States is taking so much time to tour Europe. He arrived in London last Tuesday, has been to Strasbourg, Prague yesterday and now he's off to Turkey. It shows, I suppose, that he cares about the outside world and that is 'A Good Thing'. But his long stay means that we are hearing rather a lot from him, way too much in fact.

His speeches have long under-delivered, usually leaving a faintly empty sensation in this listener even though I welcomed, moderately, his victory last year as offering the possibility of a fresh start and a boost to confidence.

Yet, we are told that he is a great orator and in one way he certainly is. He does have a preternatural calm in the spotlight and a mastery of the cadences we associate with the notable speakers in US history - such as JFK and MLK. But beyond that, am I alone in finding him increasingly to be something of a bore?

His performance at the first press conference in London with Gordon Brown featured moments in which he sparkled - his riff on loving the Queen was a high-point. But most of the serious answers that I listened to were interminable, windy and not very impressive. At points there were pauses so long that it appeared he had simply lost his train of thought.

Today, we were treated to another set-piece Obama speech, and my didn't he go on a bit? The crowd in Prague was huge, and initially wildly enthusiastic, but what he served up was not any more impressive than his damp squib in Berlin last year. Is there a computer which churns this stuff out for him? >>>