Airline bans flight attendants from wearing red lipstick

Turkish Airlines has changed its cabin crew dress code to prohibit red or pink lipstick. (AFP)

Turkish Airlines has sparked debate following a move to ban female flight attendants from wearing brightly-colored lipsticks such as red or pink.

Turkish Airlines has changed its cabin crew dress code to prohibit red or pink lipstick following "complaints submitted by passenger," reported the Turkish Cumhuriyet newspaper.

AFP reported that the move is seen by more secular Turks as one way the government is trying to Islamize the country, and is the latest in a string of conservative measures adopted by the airline. Last year, Turkish Airlines  banned the use of red-bleached hair, platinum blonde style, and flamboyant silver make-up for female flight attendants, AFP noted.

Numerous women are protesting the move and posted pictures of themselves wearing bright red lipstick on social media websites.

One Twitter user wrote: "Well, I certainly wouldn't choose your airline to get there anymore! I'll proudly wear my bright colored lipstick!"

Turkish Airlines defended the ban, saying in a statement Tuesday that "simple make-up, immaculate and in pastel colours, is preferred for staff working in the service sector."