ATATURK ban
on Hijab in Public life of Turkey
Mustafa
Kemal Atatürk did not legally ban the hijab (known in Turkey as the başörtüsü
or headscarf) in general public life. While he championed radical
secularization and modern dress codes, his strict legal bans on clothing
primarily targeted men and specific religious officials rather than the general
female population.
Atatürk’s
Actual Policies on Dress
- The Clothes and Fez Law (1925): Atatürk legally banned the
traditional Ottoman fez and religious robes for men, mandating
Western-style hats and suits instead.
- Discouragement, Not Prohibition: For women, Atatürk actively
discouraged the veil and headscarf, viewing them as symbols of the Ottoman
past that hindered women's liberation and equality. However, he chose a
policy of social persuasion rather than a legal mandate. He was frequently
photographed on public business alongside his wife, Lâtife Hanım, who wore
a modern style of head covering.
- Religious Garb Restrictions
(1934): A law
was passed prohibiting religious garments (such as those worn by imams,
priests, or rabbis) from being worn outside of places of worship. This
applied equally to all religions and was aimed at clerical clothing, not
the personal dress of everyday women.
Where Did
the Turkey Hijab Ban Come From?
The
sweeping, strict legal bans that barred women in headscarves from universities,
civil service jobs, and government buildings did not originate under Atatürk.
Instead, the
strict hijab ban was codified in the late 1970s and early 1980s, gaining
absolute enforcement after the 1980 military coup. Bureaucrats and the
military judiciary implemented these regulations under the guise of protecting
Atatürk's secular legacy (Kemalism), creating a strict division in
public institutions.
The
Repeal of the Ban
The bans
that kept millions of observant women out of higher education and the public
workforce lasted for decades until they were dismantled in stages by Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan's government:
- 2008–2010: The restriction was effectively
lifted for university students.
- 2013: The ban was lifted for civil servants and government employees (excluding the
military and judiciary at the time).
- 2016–2017: Restrictions were finally
removed for women serving in the police force and military
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