[A]re we then protecting the right of these women and girls to wear headscarves because we regard them as having exercised an autonomous choice? But isn’t the woman’s obligation in Islam to cover her head less a matter of her own decision than of her religion’s demand that she not be publicly accessible and seductive to men unrelated to her? Since the theological basis for girls and women covering their heads is quite unclear in Islam, and many Muslim communities interpret the Islamic texts differently and ask women to cover themselves in different ways, there is still room for great ambiguity about what is expected from women and why.

Benhabib also asks readers to consider how this resolution may impact other groups within Turkish society. She points out, “The Turkish Parliament has thus upheld the principle of non-discrimination, not only against religious individuals but all others as well, on the grounds of the illegality of ‘distinctions of language, race, color, gender, political belief, philosophical conviction, religion, ethnicity…’” Benhabib reflects on what this change may mean for the country’s 15 million Kurds as well as to what extent it will be applied evenly to Muslims, Jews and Christians.

The full article can be accessed at: “Turkey’s Headscarf Legislation: One Step Backwards or Two Steps Forward?”