An attempt by the Turkish government to draft a constitution to replace one written following a military coup has sparked a fierce debate over the position of the Muslim headscarf in society – and especially at universities.

The drafting of the new constitution has been under way for several weeks, led by a group of prominent constitutional scholars. Some are close to the socially and religiously conservative government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister who won a second term in July.