BY SAMI KOHEN
MILLIYET- Foreigners have so far shown little interest in plans to lift the headscarf ban at Turkish universities. I think the international media will do more coverage when a constitutional change is made.
But certain diplomatic circles interested in Turkey have watched developments closely from the outset.
Islamic countries, of course, welcome the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) stance and initiatives on the matter. One Iranian diplomat said, `This decision will show that Turkey respects individual freedom, and will enable women to continue their higher education and serve the country when they graduate.'
Western analysts usually favor a principle of not restricting students' attire at universities. However, they have mixed feelings over the possible consequences of lifting the ban in Turkey now. European diplomats, and especially European Union officials, for the time being prefer to take a `wait and see' approach.
EU circles - at least in their official statements - characterize this development as a `legal arrangement.'
According to European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering, the headscarf issue is a topic to be dealt with by our national Parliament. Stressing that the issue is related to the country's religion and culture, Pottering said, `In my opinion, so long as people are tolerant, it's not important how they dress'.
Indeed, this is a common view in EU circles. A European diplomat told me yesterday that they understand Turkey's sensitivity on the issue, but they didn't see the matter so dramatically. He added that it could be dealt with as an arrangement in light of Turkey's realities.
Another diplomat said that the headscarf issue wasn't a direct concern for the bloc. According to him, the EU's demands and expectations from Turkey are altogether different: Constitutional arrangements for democratization, Article 301, human rights, etc.
Western circles are divided over whether this development could harm the country's secularism and edge Turkey towards becoming an Islamic state. Some say that there is little chance of this. Turkey is a model country with a democracy in line with its own culture and traditions . On the other hand, others say Turkey's future depends on the AKP government's setting proper balances in the public and acting in a spirit of tolerance and conciliation.
This especially reflects the views of circles who know Turkey well and want it to take its place in Europe.
Of course, there are others who want to keep Turkey outside of Europe for various reasons, and they say that this development shows how far Turkey is from Europe in terms of `image' as well. Turkey's opposition will probably try to profit from this too.
Already, every day these circles are adding new ammunition to their arguments. Here is what French deputies said about Turkey in a recent joint declaration: Turkey is a country bordering Syria, Iraq and Azerbaijan . According to them, this is a situation contradicting EU thought!
What can one say to such a fanatical idea?