During a referendum rally earlier this week, he directed criticism at the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for failing to solve the headscarf problem and pledged that he would do so if he comes to power. Many found this surprising for the leader of a staunchly secular party to say. Kılıçdaroğlu’s headscarf pledge is being seen by some as a result of the transformative power the referendum is having on the CHP because the party feels forced to make pledges that will win it votes from the public even though the party’s proposed approach to a solution neither sounds realistic nor good to many.Star’s Ergun Babahan thinks the CHP seeing the headscarf ban as a problem is a giant step toward a solution because society is already disturbed about this ban though secularist circles are fine with it. He says the CHP administration bringing this problem to the agenda is important with respect to carrying its staunchly secular grass roots to common sense. But Babahan does not find the CHP proposals to eliminate the headscarf ban realistic because they include interventions in choices of individuals such as women showing part of their hair or covering their head with a loosely tied headscarf. “Let people wear what they want how they want. What they wear is none of your business,” Babahan says.
Yeni Şafak’s Fehmi Koru dwells on the change in the CHP’s discourse as a result of the referendum campaign, noting that the campaign is urging the CHP and its leader to make promises that will be welcomed by large groups in a bid to win more support. He sees Kılıçdaroğlu’s pledge to solve the headscarf problem as one such promise. With regard to other such radical promises made by Kılıçdaroğlu, Koru explains: “The CHP and its new leader are meeting with the public in squares. The CHP, which used to exist in urban areas, is now searching for ways to mobilize the silent squares.” He says no matter what comes out of the referendum on Sept. 12, the CHP will not be the same on Sept. 13.
Sabah’s Haşmet Babaoğlu also criticizes the CHP proposal to solve the headscarf problem and explains that it was never a problem of religion but of democracy. He says if the CHP tries to find a solution by discussing the issue with men of religion, the party will not be able to come up with anything sound.
