BY ISMAIL KUCUKKAYA
AKSAM- I jumped at the opportunity to meet separately with opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Board of Higher Education (YOK) Chairman Yusuf Ziya Ozcan and to hear their very interesting and important analyses. Now let me tell you my observations and impressions of Baykal and Ozcan on a solution to the headscarf issue. Baykal told me that he had met with theologians on the headscarf issue, examined various sources, consulted the Koran, and finally conveyed his views to the public. Baykal showed a singular stance on this sensitive and risky issue. He told me that if it is Turkey's problem, it should be solved with an appropriate timetable, methodology and social consensus.
So what kind of a formula is Baykal suggesting? `The problem isn't the headscarf, but imported headscarves,' said Baykal. `A party with a strong belief in secularism can solve this problem. In other words, we need a government with a solid record on secularism. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) can't solve this issue, because it has other calculations and it can't make society believe in it. The headscarf crisis can be ended only by a government which doesn't exploit the issue politically. The AKP has exploiting it from the very beginning. Only a government lacking a hidden agenda of pushing Turkey to another goal and changing people's lifestyle can solve the issue.' For Baykal, the issue can only be resolved through its own natural course, without direction, and in line with personal preferences over time. I think that with these opinions and views Baykal wants to argue that the CHP can solve the headscarf issue.
I also met with Ozcan for nearly two hours. Considering the atmosphere created by the news on the Internet and TV, there's great interest in Ozcan. Ozcan has almost become a symbol of polarization in Turkey. He believes that these debates are harming universities. He's also concerned that if the situation continues this way, the academic world will collapse. He said that he's not the government's servant. Ozcan stressed that he would struggle for our rights, but never fight, and that he would pay attention to his style.
Ozcan made a mistake this week by impetuously sending a circular to universities asking them to admit students wearing headscarves. Certain universities heeded him, while some didn't. So what's next? What he will do to the rectors? I asked him. He said that he would meet with them to try to convince them and if they didn't budge, he would initiate a process to enforce the law. But one university rector told reporters that maybe they could convince Ozcan. Then I remembered that Ozcan had said that he wouldn't fight the rectors and that all sorts of debates would take place. Now I wonder who will convince whom."