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Episode details

World Service,09 Jan 2017,9 mins

Turkey's Headscarf Row

Witness History

Available for over a year

In May 1999, a newly elected woman MP for the pro-Islamic Virtue Party in Turkey, Merve Kavakci, appeared in parliament wearing a headscarf. She faced a strong reaction from secular MPs and the Prime Minister at the time. She was booed, shouted at and prevented from taking her oath of office. Merve Kavakci spoke to Cagil Kasapoglu about that day. Photo: Merve Kavakci in the Turkish parliament. (Credit: Turkish Assembly TV)

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