The protest was organized by trade unions, which oppose “an attempt to introduce Islamic into the education system for the most part of secular Turks living in Cyprus”. “It will not pass”, “Cyprus will remain secular” – they were proclaimed on banners carried during the protest.
Protests after the decision to lift the ban on wearing scarves in schools
The Friday manifestation was another of the series of protests organized after the abolition of the North Cyprus authorities in April, a ban on wearing religious scarves in high schools. Teachers' trade unions, political parties and other leftist groups condemned the movement as a violation of the secular education system.
Elma Eyl, chairwoman of the Association of Secondary Education Teachers of Cypriot Turks (whoos) and one of the main organizers of protests, said that the change of the statute allowing to wear scarves at school is proof of the “social engineering” attempt to force the society of Cypriot Turks to subordinate the views of the ruling and development part in Turkey.
Eyl also criticized the protest of supporters to carry scarves in high schools, saying that such demonstrations are organized by Turkey and “do not reflect the will of the Cypriot Turks.”
Turkish president visiting Cyprus
The Chancellery of the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Friday that the president would pay a visit to the northern part of the divided Cyprus on Saturday.
Cyprus is divided into the EU's Cypriot Republic and the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRCP). In the north – recognized as an independent state only by Ankara – there are over 30,000 Turkish soldiers.
