More than a Moustache

27 July 2010 - The moustache is no mere facial adornment in Turkey - its style carries potent political implications. Last week Huseyin Celik, the deputy chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party said in a televised interview that "... newly created professional soldiers to fight Kurdish rebels would not be types with moustaches with down turned ends". His remarks angered the opposition and questions were asked whether the new forces would instead have almond-shaped moustaches, referring to the small and trimmed classic moustaches that is favored by the Turkish Islamists. There is also a third moustache leaving its imprint on Turkish politics: a full grown one drooping over the upper lip - a bit Nietzshean - which is recognized as the sign of a leftist.