might have politicized the head-scarf issue so that they can turn Turkey into a weak and divided nation?
—If you’d let those girls back into your school, sir, there would be no head-scarf issue.
—Is it really my decision? These orders come from Ankara. My own wife wears a head scarf.
—Stop sucking up to me. Answer the question I just asked you.
—Which question was that?
—Is your conscience bothering you?
—My child, I’m a father too. Of course I feel sorry for those girls.
—Look. I’m very good at holding myself back. But once I blow my fuse, it’s all over. When I was in prison, I once beat up a man just because he forgot to cover his mouth when he yawned. Oh, yes, I made men of all of them in there. I cured every man in that prison wing of all his bad habits. I even got them praying. So stop trying to squirm out of this. Let’s hear an answer to my question. What did I just say?
—What did you say, son? Lower that gun.
—I didn’t ask you if you have a daughter but if you’re sorry.
—Pardon me, son. What did you ask?
—Don’t think you have to butter me up, just because you’re afraid of the gun. Just remember what I asked you. (Silence.)
—What did you ask me?
—I asked you if your conscience was troubling you, infidel!
—Of course it’s troubling me.
—Then why do you persist? Is it because you have no shame?
—My son, I’m a teacher. I’m old enough to be your father. Is it written in the Koran that you should point guns at your elders and insult them?
—Don’t you dare let the word Koran pass your lips. Do you hear? And stop looking over your shoulder like you’re asking for help. If you shout for help I won’t hesitate. I’ll shoot. Is that clear?
—Yes, it’s clear.
—Then answer this question: What good can come to this country if women uncover their heads? Give me one good reason. Say something you believe with all your heart. Say, for example, that by uncovering themselves they’ll get Europeans to start treating them like human beings. At least then I’ll understand what your motives are and I won’t shoot you. I’ll let you go.
—My dear child. I have a daughter myself. She doesn’t wear a head scarf. I don’t interfere with her decision, just as I don’t interfere with my wife’s decision to wear one.
—Why did your daughter decide to uncover herself—does she want to become a film star?
—She’s never said anything of the sort. She’s in Ankara studying public relations. But she’s been a tremendous support to me since I’ve come under attack over this head-scarf issue. Whenever I get upset about the things people say, whenever I am slandered or threatened, whenever I have to face the wrath of my enemies—or people like you, who have every right to be angry—she calls me from Ankara and—
—And she says, Grit your teeth, Dad. I’m going to be a film star.
—No, son, she doesn’t say that. She says, Father dear, if I had to go into a classroom full of covered girls, I wouldn’t dare go in uncovered. I’d wear a head scarf even if I didn’t want to.
—So what if she didn’t want to cover herself, what harm could come of it?
—Honestly, I couldn’t tell you. You asked me to give you a reason.
—So tell me, you shameless brute. Do you mean to tell me that this was your thinking when you allowed the police to club these devout girls who have covered their heads at God’s command? Are you trying to tell me that you drove them to suicide just to please your daughter?
—There are plenty of women in Turkey who think the way my daughter does.
—When ninety percent of women in this country wear head scarves, it’s hard to see who these film stars think they’re speaking for. You might be proud to see your daughter exposing herself, you shameless tyrant, but get this into your head. I might not be a professor, but I know a lot more about this subject than you do.
—My good man, please don’t point your gun
—If you’d let those girls back into your school, sir, there would be no head-scarf issue.
—Is it really my decision? These orders come from Ankara. My own wife wears a head scarf.
—Stop sucking up to me. Answer the question I just asked you.
—Which question was that?
—Is your conscience bothering you?
—My child, I’m a father too. Of course I feel sorry for those girls.
—Look. I’m very good at holding myself back. But once I blow my fuse, it’s all over. When I was in prison, I once beat up a man just because he forgot to cover his mouth when he yawned. Oh, yes, I made men of all of them in there. I cured every man in that prison wing of all his bad habits. I even got them praying. So stop trying to squirm out of this. Let’s hear an answer to my question. What did I just say?
—What did you say, son? Lower that gun.
—I didn’t ask you if you have a daughter but if you’re sorry.
—Pardon me, son. What did you ask?
—Don’t think you have to butter me up, just because you’re afraid of the gun. Just remember what I asked you. (Silence.)
—What did you ask me?
—I asked you if your conscience was troubling you, infidel!
—Of course it’s troubling me.
—Then why do you persist? Is it because you have no shame?
—My son, I’m a teacher. I’m old enough to be your father. Is it written in the Koran that you should point guns at your elders and insult them?
—Don’t you dare let the word Koran pass your lips. Do you hear? And stop looking over your shoulder like you’re asking for help. If you shout for help I won’t hesitate. I’ll shoot. Is that clear?
—Yes, it’s clear.
—Then answer this question: What good can come to this country if women uncover their heads? Give me one good reason. Say something you believe with all your heart. Say, for example, that by uncovering themselves they’ll get Europeans to start treating them like human beings. At least then I’ll understand what your motives are and I won’t shoot you. I’ll let you go.
—My dear child. I have a daughter myself. She doesn’t wear a head scarf. I don’t interfere with her decision, just as I don’t interfere with my wife’s decision to wear one.
—Why did your daughter decide to uncover herself—does she want to become a film star?
—She’s never said anything of the sort. She’s in Ankara studying public relations. But she’s been a tremendous support to me since I’ve come under attack over this head-scarf issue. Whenever I get upset about the things people say, whenever I am slandered or threatened, whenever I have to face the wrath of my enemies—or people like you, who have every right to be angry—she calls me from Ankara and—
—And she says, Grit your teeth, Dad. I’m going to be a film star.
—No, son, she doesn’t say that. She says, Father dear, if I had to go into a classroom full of covered girls, I wouldn’t dare go in uncovered. I’d wear a head scarf even if I didn’t want to.
—So what if she didn’t want to cover herself, what harm could come of it?
—Honestly, I couldn’t tell you. You asked me to give you a reason.
—So tell me, you shameless brute. Do you mean to tell me that this was your thinking when you allowed the police to club these devout girls who have covered their heads at God’s command? Are you trying to tell me that you drove them to suicide just to please your daughter?
—There are plenty of women in Turkey who think the way my daughter does.
—When ninety percent of women in this country wear head scarves, it’s hard to see who these film stars think they’re speaking for. You might be proud to see your daughter exposing herself, you shameless tyrant, but get this into your head. I might not be a professor, but I know a lot more about this subject than you do.
—My good man, please don’t point your gun
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