Tayyip Erdogan proposed a televised referendum today to amend the constitution to guarantee women’s right to wear the Islamic hijab in public services, schools and universities, although the issue has not been raised in Turkey for many years.

“If you have the courage, let’s put it to a referendum. Let the people decide,” the Turkish president told the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who proposed a law guaranteeing the right to wear the Islamic headscarf.

The debate over the Islamic hijab has recently resurfaced as the 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections approach.

A Muslim-majority country with a secular constitution, Turkey has for decades been a country where the Islamic hijab has been banned from public services, schools and universities, and in some places such as parliament and military areas.

The hijab ban was introduced in 2013 by the Erdogan government.

Unlike what happened in the 1990s, when the issue sparked heated debate, no political movement is currently proposing a ban on the headscarf in Turkey.

“In the past, we have made mistakes regarding the hijab. It’s time to leave this issue behind so that it stops hanging on the lips of politicians,” Kemal Kılıçdaroglu said in early October.

According to political analysts, Kılıçdaroğlu wanted to show conservative AKP voters that they have nothing to fear in the event of a change of power.

Erdogan responded to this attempt by the opposition to win conservative votes in early October by calling on his political opponent to amend the constitution.

“Is there discrimination against those who are or are not covered by public services today? School; No. We have achieved this,” Erdogan said today.

“In the near future we will send an amendment to the constitution to parliament (…) But, if this cannot be decided in parliament, let’s take it to the approval of the people.”

Source: APE-MPE, AFP.