Turkish Airlines bans bright lipstick on air hostesses

Turkish Airlines has banned its air hostesses from wearing red or pink lipstick - a move that has seen the government accused of trying to Islamise the country, according to reports.

In a protest at the measure, a number of women have posted pictures of themselves wearing bright lipstick on social media websites.

According to AFP, Turkish Airlines amended its cabin crew dress code to prohibit red or pink lipstick following "complaints submitted by passenger".

The Herald Sun reports that the company said in a statement that "simple make-up, immaculate and in pastel colours, is preferred for staff working in the service sector".

But it's the latest in a string of conservative new measures introduced by the airline that has sparked outrage from secular Turks, including a ban on serving alcohol on internal flights.

And, in February, suggestions for new uniforms for flight attendants - ankle-length dresses and Ottoman-style fez caps - were criticised as too conservative.

Ultimately, they were not introduced.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Prime Minister Recep Tayyin Erdogan's Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party, who have been in power for over a decade, is often accused of trying to sway the country to be more conservative.

Gursel Tekin, vice-president of the main opposition party CHP, described the latest lipstick measure as "an act of perversion", adding: "How else could you describe it?"

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