She has, however, met with stiff opposition, as demonstrated by her removal from parliament. She called this as a conspiracy by a "minority of wealthy, powerful elite" to silence democratic opposition to a "corrupt system based on chaos."

She further blames a media dominated by "four powerful individuals" who are closely affiliated with the government for destroying her and her family through "character assassination."

Kavakci said she believes her exclusion from government through a ban on headscarves was merely a pretext employed by the regime.

Rather than accepting the argument that her headwear posed a threat to secularism, Kavakci said she views secularism as a tool for oppression, used by a government for which "violation of human rights is its modus operendi."

Kavakci said she sees hope for the future in Turkey, with a possibility for religious freedom for religious conservatives.

Skepticism about Kavakci's message and agenda came out in the question-and-answer session after the speech. Students said they believed she was advancing a conservative religious agenda under the guise of concern for religious freedom.

Suna Vidinli of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences accused the speaker of "hiding behind a veil of U.S. citizenship and religion to polarize politics" in Turkey. Vidinli referred to herself as a Muslim Turk.