Nicosia, Cyprus (AP) – Thousands of Turkish Cypriots took to the streets of the northern half of the ethnically divided Cyprus capital Nicosia on Friday, and what they say is Turkish attempts to erode and strengthen their secular roots Holding political Islam Beyond their society.
The rain shower was cleared long enough for Marcher to gather at the concert, reading “It won’t pass” and “Cyprus remains secular”, walking along the main boulevards holding the placards.
The protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations stacked up to express their opposition to what left unions see as Ankara’s bid to shape Turkish Cypriots steady and secular to more politically flexible communities through the introduction of Islam into the education system.
The protest came before Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Breakaway Northern Cyprus in northern Northern Cyprus. Erdogan reportedly said he would publicly condemn the protesters during his visit.
The protest began last month when right-wing Turkish Cypriot authorities lifted a ban on wearing scarves at high schools. Teacher unions, political parties and other left-wing groups have condemned the move as a violation of the strictly secular education system aimed at the ultimate “Islamization” of Turkish Cypriot society.
Cyprus split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup supported by Athens to seek a union with Greece. Only Türkiye recognizes the Turkish Cyprus’ declaration of independence on a third north of the island, which maintains a force of over 35,000 people.
Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, but only the southern part of Cyprus in Greece, where the island’s internationally recognized government sits, enjoys full benefits.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was appointed Maria Angela Holgin Queral as a personal envoy in Cyprus on Friday. Resuming peace negotiations It has been slow since 2017.
Elma Eilem, president of Ktoeös of the Turkish Cyprus Secondary Education Teachers’ Union and one of the main organizers of the protest, said that the changes in the law allowing headscarves to be worn in schools were evidence of a bid for “social engineering” to force Turkish Cypriot society to follow the practice of the Turkish ruling AKP party to enforce submission.
“This step was taken in a divided portion of our island, which turned into a Turkish sub-control where all institutions were taken over, where our population was reduced to minorities and political will was taken away.
A high school teacher reportedly drove away a female student who appeared wearing a headscarf after the ban was lifted.
Eilem defended the action, saying that the teacher would not allow political Islam to be imposed on our girls through their bodies.
“This issue is not a matter of freedom, scarves or regulation. It is a step that the AKP takes in an effort to deepen political Islamic control over the Cypriot community in Turkish,” she said.
Eilem also said that such demonstrations organized by Turkey in northern Cyprus “does not reflect the will of the Turkish Cypriot community,” and dismissed previous rebels by those in favor of wearing scarves in high schools.
Nnion’s president said at the Cyprus Constitutional Court in Turkey that a legal challenge to lift the scarf ban has begun, adding that their fight will be a “long-term struggle.”
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