Source : Presstv / 9 July 2013

A Turkish politician has slammed the government for violating the rights of millions of women who prefer to observe the Islamic dress code.

Fatma Bostan Unsal, who's one of the founders of the ruling Justice and Development Party back in 2001, said over 13 million hijab-wearing women are barred from contesting the parliamentary elections.

She said any talk about Turkey’s progressive democracy would be futile while millions of women cannot be elected as parliament members.

Last week, 57 female journalists, academicians, politicians and artists issued a letter, calling for all restrictions on the Islamic dress code to be lifted.

In Turkey, women with headscarves are banned from working in the public sector, including schools, universities, courtrooms and other public buildings.

The government’s ban on hijab has outraged Muslims who constitute over 90 percent of the country’s population.

Several protests have been held across the country to force the government to lift the controversial ban. Turkish citizens believe the majority of the population is not allowed religious freedoms.