Female members of the Turkish military, including officers, will be allowed to wear the Islamic headscarf as long as it is color-compliant with their uniform, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

The country has in recent years, under the ruling Islamic-conservative Justice and Development Party, been relaxing rules banning the headscarf in public institutions.

In 2013, members of the civil service were given permission to wear the head covering.

In 2016, police officers were given permission, as were civilians in the military.

Turkey is a majority Muslim country with a formally secular constitution.

The new rule about the military must still be registered in the Official Gazette of the government, after which it will enter into law.

(dpa/NAN)