Turkey grants student amnesties

"The Turkish parliament has granted an amnesty to 677,000 men and women who have been expelled from university over the past five years.

The amnesty includes those expelled from university because their refusal to remove the Islamic headscarf."

"The secular establishment insists that the ban maintains the separation of religion and state enshrined in the constitution.

More orthodox Muslims and human rights campaigners complain that it is an abrogation of freedom of expression and worship.

A clear majority in Turkey, which is overwhelmingly Muslim, would like to see the ban lifted.

In parliament, one deputy complained that his governing party was being too timid - he wanted the ban removed altogether.

But the government appears to have accepted that it cannot legislate against the will of the secular establishment.

Those who continue to wear a headscarf may now reapply to university, but they will not be allowed to study."
BBC NEWS | Europe | Turkey grants student amnesties