Would women wearing a headscarf join Turkey's CHP one year ago?

The fact it is being widely debated does not mean that "it has been discussed thoroughly".

 

For example…Yes, the CHP opens its doors to veiled women and those who wear headscarf.

 

But, the question should also be asked from another angle.

 

Why are veiled women coming to CHP?

 

Why does it appear as if they have lost their hope in the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Felicity Party (SP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) or from the other right-wing parties?

 

I posed the following questions to Deniz Baykal, leader of the CHP.

 

-What is the discussion for veiled women attending party meetings?

 

- I have been asked "if we would accept veiled women attending our party meetings?"ÂAnd I said, "We have been accepting them for 40 years. You can see the numbers of veiled women monitoring our party meetings. Of course, they come to our meetings, everybody comes. Making such a dress control is out of the question, as a matter of fact, they also come to parliament."

 

- Are there any exceptions?

 

- "As long as it is not just a provocative move... I list that as a condition. Anybody can come if the aim is not to cause provocation, what could be more natural than this?"Â

 

- Questions are being asked: "Why didn’t this situation exist before? Is this a new opening-out?"

 

- "I am insisting that there is nothing that could be referred to as an opening-out. I acted for humanitarian reasons. I would behave in the same way this had happened a year ago. But a year ago, veiled women had not reached the point of wanting to leave the AKP to join the CHP. But now they are at that point and this situation has presented itself to me. Am I in a position to say no when this situation arises? This is not a political issue. There is no such ban. As a matter of fact, a lot of people attending our meetings, and even some of our deputies, have veiled wives. A large number of veiled women support the party and stand up the front in our meetings."

 

I find Baykal's stance ethical and humanitarian. If we go back to the point of the issue, the move of veiled women to join the CHP cannot be seen as a disturbing move for the CHP and its supporters.

 

Because religion cannot be a red line in politics and cannot be discriminating issue for voting. Anyone opposed to religious exploitation should be pleased that pious members of society take an interest, let alone be disturbed by it.