Turkey Removes Headscarf Ban for Advocates

Turkish State Council's 8th Division suspended the regulation which banned female advocates to headscarves at work.

The council division ordered the suspension upon a complaint from a female advocate whose professional ID renewal has not been issued by Bar Association Union of Turkey due to her picture with headscarf.

The state council division unanimously removed the regulation part "with their head uncovered" from "Advocates and intern advocates dress in an appropriate manner with their heads uncovered."

"The workplace definition in the article includes not only the court but all units and building related to a advocate's work environment," the verdict said. It also enabled freelance advocates to benefit from the regulation.

"Advocacy is considered as public service according to the service offered. On the other hand, it is a freelance profession according to how the profession is executed," the verdict continued. "This, advocates are not considered as public workers."

The state council division underscored that the execution of advocacy in the public sphere would not translate into the obligations and nature of advocacy profession. (EKN)