The World - News from April 4, 1989

Turkey recalled its ambassador to Iran in an escalation of a rift that began with Tehran criticizing a ban on Islamic headdresses worn by women students at Turkish universities. The Foreign Ministry, citing Iranian interference in Turkey’s internal affairs, said Ambassador Omer Akbel is being recalled for consultations. There was no immediate reaction from Iran. Last month, members of Iran’s Parliament issued a statement expressing displeasure with Turkey’s ban on Islamic headdresses, and last week, Iran’s ambassador to Turkey was quoted as saying that Tehran would have to review its ties with Ankara over the ban. Turkey called the Iranian’s remarks a “grave violation of diplomatic practice.”