Medieval Methods of Reform Turkey remains a medieval country. Alarmed by the spread of alcoholism and prostitution, the. latter usually caused by economic distress, the Sheikh-ul-Islam, Mustapha Sabu, the head of the "moderate" section of the Itilaf Party, proposes to enforce drastic regulations which aim at the improvement of Moslem morals.
By a scheme now under consideration Moslems are forbidden to sell alcohol, and Moslem women will be forbidden to enter trades and professions where they may associate with men. The latter prohibition will simply result in a number of girls who are making their living honestly as telephonists and post-office clerks, and behaving with great propriety, being deprived of a livelihood. It is further proposed to enact that women shall not leave houses in male company and that the dress they wear shall be prescribed by the authorities.
To deal with the admittedly great evil of clandestine prostitution among Moslems, the Sheikh-ul-Islam is reported to have proposed' that the Moslem inhabitants of each quarter shall be called upon to inform the police, who will be-empowered, after inquiry, to expel the delinquents. The last measure, if accepted, will doubtless givoblackmailers a great opportunity.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.