Turkey Rolls Back Women's Rights
The good news is women's groups are actually taking notice and protesting Turkey's descent into Taliban-like Sharia law. The bad news is the womens groups of the Western world don't seem to notice or care.
Women's groups in Turkey have condemned a new draft constitution, saying it sets the country back years in terms of gender equality.
When they are already decades behind.
A new constitution is being prepared to replace the current one, introduced after the military coup of 1980.
The document describes women as a vulnerable group needing protection.
Bukhari:V1B22N28 "The Prophet said: ‘I was shown the Hell Fire and the majority of its dwellers were women who are disbelievers or ungrateful.' When asked what they were ungrateful for, the Prophet answered, ‘All the favors done for them by their husbands.'"
The proposed constitution has already sparked fierce debate with a clause to allow women to attend university wearing the Islamic headscarf.
Speaking on Tuesday, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured critics the new draft constitution will reflect the values and needs of all groups of society.
'Patriarchal society'
More than 80 women's groups have come together to voice strong opposition to the draft constitution, calling it a major step backwards for equal rights.
The current constitution in Turkey obliges the government to ensure equality for all - a clause that women's groups fought hard to include.
The new draft removes that, describing women instead as a vulnerable group in need of special protection.
Women's rights activist Selen Lermioglu calls that worrying proof that Turkey is still a highly patriarchal society.
"If the government accepts this it will show their ideology and mindset about women and men - that women are a group that needs to be protected," she said.
Protected is a nice word for it.
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