Jordan Times
Monday, May 24, 1999
Women activists to stage sit-in in support of Turkish deputy
AMMAN (J.T.) — Women activists, spearheaded by members of the Islamic Action Front, are to stage a sit-in on Monday near the Prime Ministry in solidarity with a Turkish Islamist deputy who was ousted for donning the veil, the IAF announced on Sunday.
“The women's wing of the IAF will hold a sit-in in support of Turkish MP Merve Kavakci,” who was booed out of parliament because she refused to take off her headscarf, said a brief communiqué by the IAF.
Leftist and Pan-Arab women's federations are to take part in the sit-in, slated for 10:30 a.m., according to the communiqué.
Islamist activists told the Jordan Times that the IAF had officially received a green light to hold the gathering in front of the Prime Ministry.
There was no official confirmation.
More than 100 women from all walks of Jordanian life met Wednesday at the IAF premises and vehemently supported the right of Muslim women to wear Islamic dress and demanded that secular Turkey change its anti-Muslim decisions.
Merve Kavakci, who stirred a heated debate in secular Turkey with her headscarf, was stripped of her Turkish citizenship on the ground she had obtained U.S. nationality days after registering for April's national elections.