<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> WorldTribune.com: Mobile — Turkey's military confronts government over scarves for women students

Turkey's military confronts government over scarves for women students

Monday, June 10, 2008 Free Headline Alerts

ANKARA — Turkey's military has taken a stand against its the Islamist government over the issue of a secular state.

The Turkish General Staff endorsed a ruling by the Constitutional Court that blocked the attempt of the ruling Justice and Development Party to enable Muslim women to wear headscarves in universities.

The party, led by Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, sought to introduce two constitutional amendments that had been expected to win the required two-thirds of parliament.

"There is no power strong enough to overthrow the republic and its fundamental principles," Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said.

Buyukanit and other Turkish commanders, who have kept a low profile for nearly a year, welcomed a June 5 court ruling that two constitutional amendments introduced by Erdogan's party violated Turkish secular principles. One of the amendments would have revised the constitutional guarantee that all were equal before the law.

"The Turkish republic is the only country in the Islamic world with a secular structure," Buyukanit said. "There are those who want to destroy Turkey's secular structure or attach epithets to the country's name. The judicial bodies will never allow this to happen."

The Turkish military has maintained an uneasy relationship with the ruling Islamist party, which enjoys support from the European Union and the United States. The Justice and Development Party, accused of corruption and suppression of the media, has faced a legal challenge that could close the movement on charges that it has become the focus for anti-secular activities.

"The Constitutional Court has made its decision and I respect it," said Turkish Land Forces Command chief Gen. Ilker Basbug, expected to succeed Buyukanit when he retires in August 2008.

The General Staff has also responded to Turkey's diplomatic initiatives. Buyukanit applauded Ankara's mediation between Israel and Syria as well as an effort to resolve the Hizbullah-government conflict in Lebanon. Buyukanit has generally dismissed mediation efforts in the Middle East.

"Israel and Syria should enter into a new process of dialogue under the patronage of Turkey," Buyukanit said.

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