By Andrew L. Jaffee

Turkey’s Islamist ruling party is trying to edit the country’s constitution, redefining “women as a vulnerable group needing protection:”

…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. …

Turkish women’s rights groups are protesting, but I’m not sure they’ll be able to prevent the changes:

…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. …

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.

“No we’re not, we don’t need protection. We need equality and ask for that, not protection.

“If all laws and the whole constitution is prepared with this mindset, it can have a really bad impact,” she added.

The group says it has not formed a common position yet on the issue of the Islamic headscarf, worn by more than 60% of Turkish woman but banned in state offices, schools and universities. …

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Related: Islam, Turkey, Constitution, Human Rights, Feminism

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