Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Religion & Law Blogs -> Religion Clause

Religion & Law

: Religion Clause

Suit Claims Headscarf Amendments To Turkish Constitution Are Impermissible

By Howard Friedman

An interesting Constitutional challenge was filed in Turkey's Constitutional Court on Tuesday, according to Today's Zaman. Article 4 of Turkey's Constitution makes the document's first three articles unamendable. 112 opposition deputies signed a nearly 50-page petition claiming that recent Constitutional amendments lifting the country's ban on wearing of headscarves at universities are inconsistent with unamendable Article 2. That article provides: "The Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law ... and based on the fundamental tenets set forth in the Preamble." The Preamble in turn provides: "as required by the principle of secularism, there shall be no interference whatsoever by sacred religious feelings in state affairs and politics".

Meanwhile, 12 nongovernmental organizations in Erzurum said they will file a criminal complaint against Atatürk University Rector Ya?ar Sütbeyaz who continues to ban headscarves at his school.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 28, 2008 (boomark / email).