Interesting article on the battle between secular and 'traditional' Turkey.....
Disappointment as Michelle Obama skips trip to TurkeyMichelle Obama may have been the star of the US President’s European show, but Turks were deprived of the chance to see her when she chose to return to her children instead of accompanying her husband to Ankara and Istanbul.
......“My daughter was really looking forward to seeing her,” said Ayse Tastan, a cleaning lady. “She particularly liked the little ones. It's a real shame she didn’t come here. It’s only two more days.”
A White House spokesman said that Mrs Obama had always planned to go home to see her children, who went back to school last week after spring break. “She wanted to be back home on Sunday night ahead of the kids' school,” he said.
The Turkish media have been following Michelle Obama’s European visit with interest, carrying stories of her dress and exploits, including her protocol-breaching hug of the Queen. A picture of her at the G20 summit in London, standing next to Emine Erdogan, the wife of the Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan, attracted mixed emotions, however, since Mrs Erdogan’s Muslim headscarf is viewed with distaste by secular Turkey’s establishment, which fears that she creates a negative, over-conservative view of the nation seeking membership of the EU.
"I bet she decided not to come because she didn’t want to be involved with our headscarved crowd," said Cigdem, 39, an accountant. “Who would? I'm glad we don't have to watch her posing side by side with them here."
....Members of Turkey’s establishment, including the military, which is the self-appointed defender of secularism, still often boycott receptions and dinners if there is the danger they may have to consort with women in headscarves. The Muslim headscarf is generally not allowed in Turkish universities, parliament and public offices.
“They make a very interesting couple in the White House, and when Obama came alone everyone felt there was something missing,” said writer Ipek Calislar....
Full article here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6046656.ece