Headscarf Confrontation At Boğaziçi University

With the first days of the new school year, the Boğaziçi University has found itself in a confrontation over the headscarf issue.

There was no problem with the headscarf worn by the young female students of the Muslim faith, when Ayşe Soysal was the rector of the university. However, new rector Kadri Özçaldıran, according to Başak Kocadost, a student in the university, began his administration by placing a form at the gate of the university for those students wearing headscarf to sign. The form said, “I accept the legal measures when I enter the university wearing a headscarf.” The new rector also had warnings placed at various locations in the university.

Seeing this, two hundred students, those wearing headscarf and those who support them, gathered at the gate of the university to protest the new policy and then entered the university.

Those students with the headscarves said the new rector only allowed hats and rain-hoods. 

“The ban should be lifted”

Kocadost’s opinion about the problem is:

“The students with headscarves should not be prevented from wearing their headscarves when entering the university and their classes. For the male students who share the same religious view do not face any problem. Moreover, this implementation means preventing one from exercising her/his right to education. That is why I find it absurd.”

Responding to the critiques, new rector Özçaldıran said he was simply implementing the decision of the Constitutional Court. He added that the problem was resolved since the students agreed to wear different headgears other than the headscarves.

Kocadost says that the students with the headscarves found some support in the first week. Since the student organizations are still active, she hopes the nine day long vacation will not affect the solidarity among the students negatively. (EZÖ/EÜ/TB)