Saturday, March 29, 2025
Erdoğan faces backlash Cyprus after thousands of Turkish Cypriots rallied in protest against Ankara’s push to Islamise northern Cyprus. The demonstrations erupted following a controversial law permitting headscarves in schools, a move widely viewed as an attack on the region’s secular identity.
During a visit to northern Cyprus on Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a stern warning to demonstrators. He told them that those attempting to “sow seeds of hatred” and divide the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot people would fail.
He doubled down later, saying: “If you try to mess with our girls’ headscarves in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, you will find us against you.”
The protests, which have grown in frequency, reflect rising anger over Erdoğan’s influence. On Friday, thousands marched through Nicosia chanting “hands off our land.” Educators, trade unions, and civil society leaders claim the law aims to impose political Islam on a deeply secular society.
Selma Eylem, head of the Cyprus Turkish secondary education teachers’ union, accused Erdoğan’s government of overreach. “Keep your hands off our children and our society,” she said in a speech near the Turkish embassy.
Observers say the protests reflect deep-rooted fears. Turkish Cypriots, shaped by British colonialism and Kemalist ideals, are among the most secular Muslims globally.
Dr. Hubert Faustmann, a political science professor in Nicosia, described the growing tension as a “cultural clash.” He warned that Erdoğan’s actions are reshaping the identity of northern Cyprus, eroding secular traditions in the process.
Erdoğan’s trip also included the opening of a vast presidential complex funded by Ankara. He claimed the new infrastructure would help northern Cyprus gain international recognition.
He reiterated his support for a two-state solution, declaring: “Any new negotiation process must be between two sovereign states.”
The self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, formed after Turkey’s 1974 invasion, remains unrecognized by the global community—except by Turkey.
Despite support from the region’s pro-Erdoğan leader, Ersin Tatar, Turkish Cypriots remain defiant. Veteran unionist Şener Elcil called for continued resistance. “We are becoming a minority in our own land,” he said.
Elcil criticized the construction of mosques rarely used by locals and accused Ankara of trying to stir religious division.
“Now, more than ever, we need to stand up to Erdoğan and have our voices heard,” he urged.
