Istanbul: Sumeyye Erdogan Bayraktar, chairperson of the board of trustees at the Women and Democracy Foundation (KADEM), has made a public call for broader legal and societal protections for women's religious freedoms in professional settings, focusing on eliminating discrimination against women who wear the headscarf.
According to Anadolu Agency, Bayraktar delivered her remarks at a conference titled "The Right to Believe, The Right to Work: Women's Religious Freedom in the Workplace," held at Ibn Haldun University in Istanbul. She emphasized that women should not face the dilemma of choosing between their beliefs and their careers.
Reflecting on her personal experiences during Turkey's February 28 post-modern coup period, Bayraktar recounted the headscarf ban in public institutions as a time when fundamental rights were severely restricted. She shared that she had to leave her family and city at a young age to complete her education abroad due to these restrictions.
The coup on February 28, 1997, saw the Turkish military compel the government to resign and enforce strict secular policies, including a nationwide ban on headscarves in public institutions. Bayraktar acknowledged the progress Turkey has made in lifting these institutional barriers, noting that women can now wear headscarves freely in public institutions. However, she pointed out ongoing challenges, particularly in the private sector, where headscarfed women continue to face discrimination.
Bayraktar highlighted instances where women wearing headscarves are passed over for jobs despite being qualified. She cited job postings that deter applications from headscarfed women and mentioned cases where applicants were rejected after positive preliminary evaluations were reversed upon seeing their photos, violating principles of merit, equality, and dignity.
Citing European research, Bayraktar noted that women wearing headscarves face significant hiring disadvantages, with some studies indicating a 65% lower callback rate for interviews. She stressed that this issue transcends religion, touching on the right to exist, live with dignity, and work without compromising one's identity.
She also criticized recent international developments, such as France's ban on headscarves in sporting events, which she argued reflect a mindset that sees religious expression as divisive, undermining inclusion and democracy.
As the chair of KADEM, Bayraktar reaffirmed the foundation's commitment to defending women's religious freedoms as part of broader human rights. She opposed the imposition of a single narrative about women and vowed to promote policies that are rights-based and rooted in local cultural values. Bayraktar concluded by stating that protecting religious freedom in the workplace is crucial for individual liberty and a key component of gender justice. She urged institutions to prioritize human dignity and warned that a society excluding women from public life due to their appearance cannot achieve fairness or equality.