end of a beginning, beginning of an end

headscarf (n): A scarf worn over or around the head, often folded and tied. (1) Headscarves are scarves covering most or all of the top of a woman's hair and her head. Headscarves may be worn for a variety of purposes, such as fashion or social distinction, religious signifiance, modesty, or other forms of social convention. (2)

turban (n): (hijab) the Arabic term for "cover" (noun), based on the root حجب meaning "to veil, to cover (verb), to screen, to shelter" (3) The term hijab or veil is not used in the Qur'an to refer to an article of clothing for women or men, rather it refers to a spatial curtain that divides or provides privacy. The Qur'an instructs the male believers (Muslims) to talk to wives of Muhammad behind a hijab. This hijab was the responsibility of the men and not the wives of Muhammad. However, in later Muslim societies this instruction specific to the wives of Muhammad was generalized, leading to the segregation of the Muslim men and women. The modesty in Qur'an concerns both men's and women's gaze, gait, garments, and genitalia. The clothing for women involves khumūr over the necklines and jilbab (cloaks) in public so that they may be identified and not harmed. Guidelines for covering of the entire body except for the hands, the feet, and the face, are found in texts of fiqh and hadith that are developed later. (4)

democracy (n) 1. Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.
2. A political or social unit that has such a government.
3. The common people, considered as the primary source of political power.
4. Majority rule.
5. The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community. (5)


The tide is turning. Chaos is prevailing. It is rather funny to observe an inherently occidental society to find its way through modern western jargon in its search for contractual consistency. Elected government and its leaders quote words like "individual rights", "democracy", "right to express one's political view" on a daily basis in their angered and agitated speeches against minority leaders and opinion think-tanks.

In the Middle Eastern form of electoral government however democracy means majority dictatorship. As long as the ruling party could express their opinion, there is freedom of speech; as long as that party's political ambititons are served, there is "development" in the society. One could, albeit simply by reading unofficial history, see that nothing has changed so far. Since the first modernization attempts of "tanzimat" (reorganization) movement of the mid 19th Century Turkey is in search of an electoral system that can serve the ultimate goal of that peculiar culture; namely the preservation of the state and concurrently saving face vis a vis the widely accepted notions related to the welfare of its citizens. But it's really getting old. Globalism has pressures as no previous global system asserted over its members. Communications and rapid transfer of in-depth information made it impossible for countries like Turkey just to save face for prolonged periods of time.

The parliament has passed on an overwhelmingly yea vote, an ammendment to the constitution that enables girls who wear "headscarves" to enter universities as students. This act was hailed as an important move in civil rights by government communiquees and official media.

The parliament is still negotiating on a bill to improve the conditions of minority (read Christian) foundations whose main function is to take care of religious buildings and management of minority (read Armenian and Greek) schools. These for decades cannot function due to red tape and nationalization of their posessions indiscriminantly. An opposing MP declared that this bill cannot pass because it would be against the Lausanne Agreement since it gives enormous rights to "foreigners". In Turkey today, any foreigner, say a Greek citizen can buy property. But if you are a Turkish citizen belonging to a Christian (read Armenian or Greek) minority, a foundation you establish cannot own or manage property, even if this property is in your posession for centuries, and an MP can call you a "foreigner" without any consequence. Yet girls who are forced by their parents can go to the university. A great act towards civil liberties!

A professor in an university was convicted of acts against the state because in a public speech, he called, Mustafa Kemal, the founder of the Republic, a "man". For my illiterate readers, I may add that he was actually a member of the male gender. He was criticized by "important" public opinion makers in the media. He will now have to go to European Human Rights court. Yet girls who are forced by their big brothers to hide their faces from other humans now can go to the university. What a major democratic development!

It has been made public that many killings of minority leaders, bombings against a major newspaper and the supreme court was organized by a terrorist group formed by likes of a former general, a prominent lawyer and nationalist. The aim of that organization was simply to provoke nationalist feelings to further oppress minorities. But what happens now is a great mystery. Will there be a court trial against those involved, or will there be any consequences for these individuals are still vague questions with vague answers. Yet girls who beat their siblings because they wear mini skirts can go to the university. It should be counted as joy for democracy mongers!

Near future should unveil all major divisions in Turkish social make up. They would come out of their respective closets like no pervert ever did. This is the age of global chaos and Turkey should have her share. The political camps are getting futher away from each other, minimizing the hope for mature discussion or compromise. As history tells us, most of the price will be paid by the minorities in the broad sense. Liberals, extremists and religious minorities are those who shall pay for the turbulances of a nation that takes shelter in extreme nationalism and majority terror during the times of instability, and proud of it.

This shall be the beginning of an end. The end of a national hypocrisy, since during this phase of instability the closets in each dark corner of a state so secretive in her inner thoughts shall be public once and for all.

But for us, now it is time for silence again. For all shrieking voices are to be silenced by the most powerful weapon of all times: fear for loved ones.




(1) American Heritage Dictionary
(2) Wikipedia
(3) Wikipedia
(4) Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World by Macmillan Reference
(5) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language