Isnt the Army Ours?

This is how writer Emine Senlikoglu reacted to the headscarf debate in

Turkey.

Arinc, last week, attended an official function, to send off President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, with his wife Munevver Arinc, who was wearing an Islamic-style headscarf, turban.

President Sezer made a statement shortly after the incident and said, "Women may wear headscarves when they are not in public places." The debate over the headscarves became even more heated after president's statements.

According to Senlikoglu, those create these debates "who are trying to hinder the success of the Justice and Development Party (AKP)." Senlikoglu answered Bianet's questions:

There have been some statements in the last couple of days. They say the headscarf should not be worn in public places. What do you think is meant by "public places?"

Some people are trying to get the schools into the definition of "public places. But I have traveled all around Turkey. There are so many widowed women who need to work and take care of their children. But they cannot get a job because they wear headscarves. And thus, they cannot get the money to send their children to school. Those women are miserable.

What do you think about the fact that these debates began over the headscarves worn by the wives of the deputies? There are no women with headscarves within the parliament...

Internal and external enemies, who have realized that this government willbe very successful, are creating an artificial agenda to hinder AKP's activities. These people seem capable of bringing Turkey economically to the level of developed countries. And those who don't like AKP, are not happy with this fact.

Bulent Arinc said, "I am aware that I will not go to the General Staff with my wife." Does this statement mean that the people in AKP defend the headscarf only to a certain extent?

I did not hear that statement by Arinc. But he may have meant to say, "I am aware that I will not be able to go there with my wife because the army does not let headscarves in military areas." But there is nothing wrong with sending off the president. Even Ataturk had people with headscarves around him. Was there a law about women around Ataturk? Ataturk was the first lawmaker who had a wife with a headscarf. But no one went to create a law about that at the time.

Ok, but doesn't Arinc himself embrace the "headscarf-only to a certain extent," approach by saying this?

He must have meant, "The headscarf is banned there, I cannot go with my wife." I cannot talk on behalf of him, but if I were in his shoes, I would have asked, "Why is it banned in the military areas?" Why would it be banned there? Isn't the army ours too? (HA/NK/EA/NM)

* Senlikoglu has 43 published books. "They Stole the Faith of the Youth With Questions," and "From my Cuffed Pen," are two of those books. Senlikoglu has been serving as the editor-in-chief of the Letter Magazine since 1985.