Turkey allows policewomen on duty to wear Islamic headscarf

Ankara, Aug 27 (IANS) Turkey has allowed policewomen on duty to wear the Islamic headscarf, according to the amendments to the dress code published in the official gazette on Saturday.

The gazette said women serving in the Turkish national police force will be able to wear a headscarf under their caps or berets from Saturday, as long as the scarf is patternless and the same color as the uniform, Xinhua news agency reported.

For years, the ruling Islamic-oriented Justice and Development Party has been working towards removing the ban on the headscarf.

In 2010 Turkey allowed female college students to wear the headscarf on campuses, and lifted the ban for high school students in 2014.

The headscarf was allowed in state institutions in 2013.