Press Release
A Muslim Woman wearing the Khimar (Headscarf) in Turkey's Parliament is an Obligatory Duty and NOT a Favour from Anyone 

On Thursday 31st October, four female lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) attended Turkey's parliament wearing the Islamic headscarf which had been banned in all public institutions in this secular state for decades. One of these parliamentarians, Nurcan Dalbudak described the act as marking a "milestone for freedom" and stated that 60-70% of women in Turkey wore the headscarf. The khimar (the Islamic headscarf) and jilbab (the outer garment) are clearly defined in the Islamic texts as the obligated dress for Muslim women in public life. However, the idea that this move is a victory for Muslim women in Turkey is both deceptive and misled, for this very parliament continues to uphold, protect, and celebrate the same repressive secular system that implemented this discriminatory hijab ban in the first place. Under this fickle, erratic, unpredictable system, rights and laws are subject to the whims of those who govern, and hence can be here today and gone tomorrow, as exemplified by hijab, niqab, and even minaret bans in Western secular countries such as France, Belgium, Canada, and Switzerland. So what guarantees do the women of Turkey have under this flawed political model that has absolutely no reliability nor consistency, that this right to wear the hijab will not be stripped away by future governments? Neither should these latest reforms be a cause of praise, appreciation, and celebration over the country's ‘Democratic system' under which the headscarf ban remained in force for years.

How can a system that forced thousands of women to fight for basic religious rights ever be labelled a success? In addition, the recently announced "democratization package" that removes the ban from public servants, fails to lift it from various other sectors including the police, army and judiciary. So how can the rights of Muslim women ever be safe under such a volatile, contradictory, and confused form of governance?

Furthermore, how can the ability to wear an Islamic headscarf in a parliament that believes it has the right to debate and dismiss the laws of Allah (swt), and to rule by other than the dictates of Islam, including allowing alcohol, riba, and extramarital relationships to exist openly within society, ever be viewed as a victory for Muslim women?

Dear sisters of Turkey, this partial lifting of the khimar ban is nothing but a ploy of your rulers to delude that your rights can be fulfilled under this democratic regime which makes the legislation according to the whims of rulers and members of parliament which makes the khimar prohibited and permitted depending on their whims; and not implemented according to the Shari' provisions that are obligated by Islam in its state, the Khilafah "Caliphate" State. It is the Khilafah "Caliphate" state alone that will enable you to live by all the Commands of Allah (swt), and have active political and public lives while also guaranteeing you the right to wear your khimar with complete honour and under the protection of the State. The Khilafah "Caliphate" State will implement Islam immediately and comprehensively and prohibit any God-given rights to be changed or abandoned. So just as you desire to adorn the Islamic dress in response to the Order of Allah (swt), respond to His Command to establish His Khilafah "Caliphate" upon your land for this will be the true victory for the women of Turkey and the whole Muslim world.

Dr. Nazreen Nawaz
Member of the Central Media Office
of Hizb ut Tahrir