The New York Times has published an article addressing the accomplishments of the Turkey’s national women’s volleyball team and the resulting polarization in Turkish public opinion. The article highlights that certain players on the team have come under the scrutiny and criticism of ultra-conservative factions.
The New York Times has described Turkey’s Women’s National Volleyball Team as the country’s most successful sports team. The newspaper wrote that the team’s success “has turned into a rare source of national pride that holds appeal across the country’s social divides.”
“While some ultraconservatives have attacked the women as an affront to Islamic values, their fans laud them as paragons of female empowerment in a country where many women feel they have yet to achieve social equality.”
The news highlights that politics in Turkey is often characterized by a tension between those who aim to preserve the secular identity and those led by President Tayyip Erdoğan, who seek to increase the role of Islam in daily life. It is noted that the players are “clearly” closer to the secular segment of society.
“They do not cover their hair or wear clothing that conceals their bodies, as most devout Muslim women do. Instead, they appear in the standard uniform of shorts and tank tops, and some sport tattoos.”
The article also brings attention to the fact that Ebrar Karakurt, who has faced a significant amount of homophobic hate speech, was labeled a ‘national disgrace’ by the Yeni Akit newspaper.
The sports minister’s absence
In an article that recalls the earthquakes and inflation that occurred in Turkey on February 6th, it is mentioned that the success of the National Team is a “welcome bright spot.”
It is noted that President Erdoğan called the women’s team after their first matches at the Tokyo Olympics and stated that he closely followed their performance. However, the article also highlights that the opposition has criticized the Sports Minister for not attending the match where Turkey became champions in the Nations League.
The article underscores President Erdoğan’s message of congratulations, which he shared on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter after the team’s success. In his message, Erdoğan stated, “I wholeheartedly congratulate our National Women’s Volleyball Team, the Queens of the Net, who have brought great pride to all of us as the 2023 CEV European Champions.”
Source: New York Times