Newsroom
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he’ll soon visit the occupied north of Cyprus, following a wave of backlash over reported restrictions on the headscarf in the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (trnc), which only Turkey recognizes.
Speaking to members of his ruling AK Party, Erdogan reportedly called the situation “unacceptable,” adding that he plans to “send the necessary messages” during his upcoming trip. While he didn’t give an exact date, Turkish media say the visit is likely to take place in early May, timed with the opening of the newly built "presidential complex" in the north.
Erdogan’s remarks come after reports that sparked controversy in Turkish media, claiming that women wearing headscarves faced discrimination in certain settings in the occupied areas. Although the exact incidents weren’t detailed, the Turkish president didn’t mince his words: “When you don’t set limits for them, they don’t know their place,” he said, hinting at growing frustration with local authorities in the north.
This will be Erdogan’s first public move on the issue, and his visit is expected to double as both a political message and a show of support to the Turkish Cypriot leadership. It’s not the first time Ankara has used high-profile visits to underscore its influence in the north, but this one comes with added weight, given the sensitive topic of religious rights.
The headscarf debate has long been a flashpoint in Turkish politics and society, and Erdogan’s government has positioned itself as a defender of conservative values. Now, it appears that stance is extending more assertively across the island’s divide.
