Cultural identities are essential for people sense of self and interactions with other communities.

People with strong sense of identity are more likely to interact with other cultures in terms of the
diversity of values and religious beliefs and the material aspects of culture. According to
UNESCO, cultural heritage and cultural expressions have become direct targets of deliberate
attacks in many conflicts worldwide. Culture is particularly vulnerable to destruction, and
deliberate attacks, often accompanied by the persecution of people based on culture, religious
belief, race, violation of cultural rights, or denial of identity. Cultural protection and preservation
include human rights, tolerance, development, and protection of cultural objects and cultural
relics. We need to preserve, restore, and protect our heritage, not only because it is our past, but
also because of its uniqueness and beauty. This has nothing to do with buildings, stones, or
immaterial traditions. Our culture is our identity, representing our values, our strength, our
continuity, and our pride.
Here, I will take an example of how Turkish women took their religious and cultural identity
back. In the Muslim community, the hijab is a symbol of religious devotion and female humility.
Understanding the history of the Turkish hijab opens the door to a highly complex world of
politics, social values , and religious beliefs. This rich history is reflected in people's arts and
traditions and is intertwined with the cultural values of society. The scarf is not only a symbol of
religion, but also a tool of liberation for some people, and a symbol of oppression for others. In
Turkey, wearing a headscarf is forbidden to separate religion from the state. Many women were
arrested for wearing headscarves. But in the end, the Government unbanned restriction on a
headscarf and Turkish women who want to wear headscarves in government positions or
institutions will be able to wear scarves and there are no more restrictions by the Turkish
government.
References
Samovar L, Porter R, McDaniel E, Roy C, 2017. Communication between Cultures (9ed).
Boston MA, Cengage Learning

Schwarz, D. F. (2020, May 13). What's the Connection Between Residential Segregation and
Health? https://www.rwjf.org/en/blog/2016/03/whats-the-connection-between-residential-
segregation-and-health.html.

TRT World “Turkey's history of headscarf bans explained”. (2017).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u3E7QblKSA.