Airline Lipstick Ban: Turkish Citizens See Red Over New Policy

Secular Turks are afraid their country is becoming more Islamic after Turkish Airlines banned flight attendants from wearing red lipstick, according to Reuters.

The airline said its decision was geared towards having their on-flight employees "artless and well-groomed with makeup in pastel tones.” This would promote a more authentic appearance which strengthens communication between the crew and the plane’s passengers.

"As a consequence of our current cabin uniforms not including red, dark pink, et cetera, the use of lipstick and nail polish in these colors by our cabin crew impairs visual integrity," read a statement from the airline. The company did not comment further on the situation.

This regulation is the latest in a group of others which pertain to how the crew presents itself as well as the service of alcohol on flights.

People who oppose the measures say the rules are enforced because of the government’s conservative values. Many believe these values are influencing the policy of the state-run airline.

"This new guideline is totally down to Turkish Airlines management's desire to shape the company to fit its own political and ideological stance," Atilay Aycin, president of the airline's Hava-Is labor union said. “No one can deny that Turkey has become a more conservative, religious country."

Although the country is 99 percent Muslim, it has seen guidelines related to religion become less stringent. The ruling AK party, lead by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, has lightened the country’s hold on its citizens’ religious rights. For example there were at one time strict laws against the wearing of headscarves.

Even though the move was made in an effort to boost women’s rights, it kept many religious women out of universities and government jobs.

Turkish Airlines has pulled its own ban on the scarves and now women who wear them man the check-in counters and work at other positions.

Some Turkish Twitter users expressed their annoyance with the new guideline on the social media site. Women put up photos with their lips covered in red lipstick. One wrote “Why not just ban stewardesses altogether so we can all breathe a sigh of relief?"

Male Twitter users were upset at the idea that stewards with red lipstick would prompt uncontrollable sexual desires.

One passenger, 33-year old Ahmet Yerli was not of the opinion that that the conservative Islamic culture was taking over the airline but he did joke, "I've never heard of a plane crashing because of a women's lipstick."

No flight attendants were available for comment.