VOA常速英语2008年-Turkey Moves to Lift Ban on Headscarves at Univ

By Dorian Jones
Istanbul
07 February 2008

Turkey's Islamic-rooted ruling Justice and Development party has won the first of two votes in parliament to change the country's constitution to lift a ban on the wearing of religious headscarves at universities. The move is proving deeply controversial with opponents of the reform who argue it threatens the secular¹ foundation of Turkey. Dorian Jones reports for VOA from Istanbul.

 

In the first two rounds of voting, the parliament voted 401 to 110 and 404-99 in favor of constitutional amendments³ to end the 28-year ban on headscarves in universities. The amendment² has to be confirmed in a second vote Saturday.

In an often heated debate, Deputy Prime Minister Cemil Cicek said the reform will end an injustice⁴. He said in a democracy everybody is equal before the law and the lifting of the ban is being done to end discrimination. He says the change is being made in the name of freedom.

The main opposition⁵ People's Party condemned⁶ the vote.

RPP parliament member Nur Serter says wearing a religious headscarf sends the wrong message. She points to the experience of neighboring Iran.

"Headscarf has always been used [in Iran] as the main symbol of the political Islamic movement," she said. "For example, headscarf has been the symbol of the Iranian Islamic revolution, so Turkey is very sensitive."

While its population is overwhelmingly Muslim, Turkey is a strictly⁷ secular state. Lifting the ban on headscarves at universities has raised concerns that the ruling party is trying to undermine secularism⁸. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has denied this.

Protests against the lifting of the ban have been held across the country. In Ankara, 100,000 people went into the streets last Saturday to express their opposition.

Still, the latest opinion polls show a majority of the people favor lifting the ban and six out of 10 women wear headscarves.

Political columnist⁹ Nuray Mert warns the government drive to introduce change could come at a high cost.

"This tension will go on and on. I can't see any solution at the moment or any kind of compromise," said Mert. "Neither the government takes a step back, nor the opposition. Not only the opposition party, but all these circles the judiciary , and universities they are not inclined to take a step back. So I cant¹⁰ see any future of compromise."

 

If, as expected, the ban on wearing headscarves is enacted¹¹ in the second parliamentary vote Saturday, opponents are already threatening to challenge it in the constitutional court.

1 secular   

n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的

参考例句：

• We live in an increasingly secular society.我们生活在一个日益非宗教的社会。
• Britain is a plural society in which the secular predominates.英国是个世俗主导的多元社会。

2 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

3 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

4 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

8 secularism   

n.现世主义；世俗主义；宗教与教育分离论；政教分离论

参考例句：

• Unless are devoted to God, secularism shall not leave us. 除非我们奉献于神，否则凡俗之心便不会离开我们。 来自互联网
• They are no longer a huge threat to secularism. 他们已不再是民主的巨大威胁。 来自互联网

9 columnist   

n.专栏作家

参考例句：

• The host was interviewing a local columnist.节目主持人正在同一位当地的专栏作家交谈。
• She's a columnist for USA Today.她是《今日美国报》的专栏作家。

10 cant   

n.斜穿，黑话，猛扔

参考例句：

• The ship took on a dangerous cant to port.船只出现向左舷危险倾斜。
• He knows thieves'cant.他懂盗贼的黑话。

11 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹