BY CUNEYT ULSEVER
HURRIYET- The European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) ruling last week on the wearing of headscarves in Turkey’s state schools read as follows: ‘One individual’s habits, manifesting his/her beliefs or religion, could be perceived by other individuals as an infringement on their own religious sensibilities and their personal rights and freedoms. Therefore, the state can limit habits which display the individual’s religion or belief.’
Turkish society has two different views on this issue. The first sees wearing headscarves as a threat to their religious sensibilities and freedom. The other wants to exercise the right to education, one of the basic rights set out in the European Convention of Human Rights, without having to give up wearing headscarves. The ECHR ruling will either re-open the wound or contribute to a solution. Either way, the issue should be discussed.
If the rule of law is our common aim, then we have to be able to accept the court’s decision. Since women who are wearing the headscarves filed the case of their free will, then they should accept it, because questioning the ECHR is an easy but dangerous attitude. How could we agree on something if we don’t let the judiciary solve it?
It’s also important that we understand the ruling. It doesn’t ban headscarves, but rather gives the state the authority to limit them if wearing them is perceived as a threat. There is no objection to wear headscarves as long as people don’t see them as a threat to their own religion and understanding of freedom.