Refashioning Secularisms in France and Turkey : The Case of the Headscarf Ban

By adopting a bottom-up approach, Refashioning Secularisms in Turkey and France makes important empirical and theoretical contributions to the study of secularism and Islam. By looking into who is affected by secular policies as well as who is reformulating secularism and how, the study underlines the importance of women and gender relations in the formulation of contemporary secular tropes – a dimension that has been relatively sidelined in works on secularism.

Over the past few years, secularism has become an intrinsic component of discussions on religious freedom and religious governance. The question of whether states should restrict the wearing of headscarves and other religious symbols has been particularly critical in guiding this thought process.

Refashioning Secularisms in France and Turkey documents how, in both countries, devout women have contested bans on headscarves, pointing to how these are inconsistent with the ‘real’ spirit of secularism. These activists argue that it is possible to be simultaneously secular and religious; to believe in the values conveyed by secularism, while still remaining devoted to their faith. Through this examination, the book highlights how activists locate their claims within the frame of secularism, while at the same time revisiting it to craft a space for their religiosity.

Addressing the lacuna in literature on the discourse of devout Muslims affected by these restrictions, this book offers a topical analysis on an understudied dimension of secularism and is a valuable resource for students and researchers with an interest in Religion, Gender Studies, Human Rights and Political Science.