BY ZEYNEP ATIKKAN
AKSAM- The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan have committed themselves to Turkey’s European Union membership. As a result, inevitably all the winds blowing from Europe have an impact on the AKP, just like the hubbub over the recent European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling on Turkey prohibiting the wearing of headscarves in public places. As the ECHR’s decision is a ‘road map’ leading to our goal, we shouldn’t get angry at this decision, but evaluate it coolly. Integration with the EU is a thorny process, and it should be looked at like harmonizing with a family’s house rules. Cool, careful and reasonable approaches are always needed on this road. In spite of its majority in Parliament, the AKP hasn’t developed cool and mature reflexes. When the US or the EU praises the AKP, it over-rejoices like a child getting a prize. When something unpleasant happens, the government firstly panics and then gets very angry. The ECHR’s ruling followed this pattern. When Erdogan was caught between the EU goal and his party’s base, he said, ‘There’s no such thing as a public space.’ Perhaps by these words Erdogan meant that public spaces are areas of integration. It’s natural that in such spaces, differences may influence each other. As he was angry, he immediately banished the difference between public spaces and private ones. Then he corrected himself, saying, ‘Public spaces aren’t state spaces.’
This sensitivity comes from the fact that the AKP has continued its political struggle centered on freedom of religion and conscience. At this point, he also gets the support of media figures who call themselves liberals. Now the headscarf is a symbol of freedom of religion and conscience. As a retreat would be difficult due to political considerations, new covers are being prepared with new concepts. It seems there will be a power struggle over public space.
Constitutional law professor Ibrahim Kabaoglu told me yesterday that in order to properly ground these discussions, a distinction should be made between ‘private space,’ ‘social space’ such as parks, gardens and cafes, and ‘public space.’ Under this distinction, ‘private space’ is the freest and ‘social space’ provides the best atmosphere for developing freedom. Rules weigh the most in public spaces. These spaces shouldn’t be diminished, firstly because we should strengthen our democracy, and secondly because we should bring stability to the EU.