"There are two dimensions to the discussion about Hayrünnisa Gül. One is the fact that it is Abdullah Gül facing us but that it is Hayrünnisa Gül who is being debated. The second is that legally, a president needs to have a universal stance, meaning that he cannot be referring to one ethnic or religious group."

Journalist Ayca Atikoglu, author of the book "Wives of the Presidents" has thus evaluated the continuing controversy over Abdullah Gül's headscarved wife for bianet.

She emphasised that never before has a president's wife been regarded as "strange".

"The fact that Abdullah Gül's wife wears a headscarf is a wink in the direction of a certain group. At this point it is not relevant whether Hayrünnisa Gül wears the headscarf for that purpose or thinks like that."

Controversy 

When Abdullah Gül's candidacy became known, first his wife's headscarf, and then her early age at marriage became matters of discussion. The Hürriyet and Radikal newspapers, for instance, ran articles on headscarf styles, speculating about which style she would choose. The Milliyet newspaper, among others, has written about her early engagement at 14 and her marriage at 15, the earliest possible age according to laws at the time. (GG/AG)