Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has proposed to seek public opinion on ensuring the right to wear hijab in the constitution. Erdogan’s proposal is about ensuring the constitutional right to wear hijab in government institutions, schools and universities. Erdogan has said that he can hold a referendum if needed.
Erdogan was responding to the demand of Kemal Kilikdaroglu, chairperson of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Kemal demanded a law to ensure the right to wear the headscarf. Erdogan’s announcement was made at an event in the southeastern Turkish city of Malatya.
“If you have the courage, come forward. Let’s put the matter to referendum. Let the country decide the matter. If there is sincerity in the proposal, if there is a desire to exclude the headscarf from human rights controversies, then come forward to implement this not through law, but through constitutional amendment..”-Urdugan asked.
He also informed that soon the constitutional amendment in this regard will be presented in the Parliament. However, Erdogan indicated that if the matter is not resolved in the parliament, it will be left for the public to decide.