The Turkish parliament early Thursday decided to lift the headscarf ban with more than 400 votes. Now the parliament has to vote again on Saturday to finalize changes in the constitution that allows the headscarf restrictions in universities to be scrapped.

The secular establishment, which includes army generals, judges and university presidents, fears ending the ban would undermine the separation of state and religion, one of the founding principles of the modern Turkish republic.
Secularists say religious garments have no place in school. But opponents say the ban infringes on their religious freedoms.

To ease concerns, the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party has stated that a loosening of the ban would be limited to universities, and would not be expanded to high schools or public offices.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to uphold secularism but says he wants to allow the headscarf on the campus to boost religious and personal freedoms.

The main opposition secularist Republican People's Party (CHP) says lifting the ban would be a first step toward a more Islamic rule, and has vowed to challenge any changes in court.

Two-thirds of Turkish women wear headscarves and many stopped going to university after a ban on wearing them in public institutions was extended to universities in 1989.

In the final vote of the first round, the planned amendment to the constitution to end the ban was approved by 404 parliamentarians to 92, easily exceeding the required two-thirds majority of 367.

The amendment is sponsored by the AK Party and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

It is one of the most significant moves on religious issues in a military coup in 1980 that led to a crackdown on individual rights.

The ban was significantly tightened in 1997 when Turkey's army generals, acting with public support, ousted a government they deemed too Islamist.

The lifting of the bans required amendments in two articles of the Turkish constitution.

The first change was accepted with 401 votes against 110 votes, while three votes were invalid. The 1st article adds the statement "...and in benefiting from all public services" in the last sentence of Constitution's Article 10 on "Equality before the Law." Under this amendment, last sentence of Article 10 says that "State organs and administrative authorities shall act in compliance with the principle of equality before the law in all their proceedings and in benefiting from all public services.

The second change was approved with 404 votes against 99 votes, while two votes were invalid. The 2nd article amends Article 42 of the Constitution on "Right and Duty of Training and Education"; by adding the statement "No one can be deprived of the right to receive higher education for reasons not openly mentioned by laws. The limits of the use of this right will be determined by law."

The third vote which is on enforcement of the bill was adopted with 404 votes against 92 votes, while two votes were invalid.