Merve Kavakci

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Heart and Soul


Heart and Soul BBC World Service 07.32 Sunday

A Woman of Conviction: Merve Kavakci

Trevor Barnes continues his series of challenging conversations with women of conviction.

This week, he meets Merve Kavakci. As a young woman, she won a seat in the Turkish parliament - only to be jeered by her colleagues because she refused to take her seat without her Islamic headscarf in place.

That was in 1999. Her principled stance has condemned her years of virtual exile in America.

So how did she cope with the consequences of her actions?

What does her faith mean to her today?

And, as a campaigner for the right of women to wear Islamic dress, what does she say to those who think that in a post-9/11 world, this is a side issue?

A Woman of Conviction: Merve Kavakci

Trevor Barnes continues his series of challenging conversations with women of conviction.

This week, he meets Merve Kavakci. As a young woman, she won a seat in the Turkish parliament - only to be jeered by her colleagues because she refused to take her seat without her Islamic headscarf in place.

That was in 1999. Her principled stance has condemned her years of virtual exile in America.

So how did she cope with the consequences of her actions?

What does her faith mean to her today?

And, as a campaigner for the right of women to wear Islamic dress, what does she say to those who think that in a post-9/11 world, this is a side issue?