Erdoğan: "Secularism should serve to unite people, not divide them"

Speaking to his ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) group meeting yesterday, Erdoğan said that lifting the headscarf ban at universities would only reinforce the principle of secularism. "Secularism should serve as a tool to unite people, not a divisive force," Erdogan added. "We are working to put into practice universal principles to ensure the right to education. No one should have any concerns about that. We stand by all our citizens, no matter their political views." Saying that everyone should pay special attention to the principle of secularism, Erdogan added that his government has strived to strengthen the republic and democracy, and will continue with the same determination.