Turkish leader says male and female students to be segregated in university dorms

ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey's prime minister says that male and female students will be segregated in university dorms and student homes.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's on Tuesday rejected accusations that his government was interfering in citizens' lifestyles but said his conservative party has a duty toward parents.

The issue is a sensitive one in Turkey which has secular laws but is governed by Erdogan's Islamic-leaning party. Secular-oriented Turks accuse Erdogan of forcing his conservative religious outlook on their lives.

In June, Turkey was rocked by protests by mostly-secular Turks angered by what they said was Erdogan's increasingly authoritarian ways and attempts to impose his conservative views on society.