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Mounting tensions in the Turkish-occupied areas of northern Cyprus boiled over this weekend as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stark warning to Turkish Cypriots protesting against what they see as an attempt to alter the region’s secular identity.
During a whirlwind visit on Saturday, Erdogan told critics not to “sow seeds of hatred,” just as thousands of Turkish Cypriots were taking to the streets, opposing Ankara-backed policies they see as a threat to their way of life.
At the heart of the controversy is a new regulation allowing headscarves in public schools, a move many see as part of a broader push by Erdogan’s government to promote political Islam in a society that has long been fiercely secular.
“Keep your hands off our society”
The protests, which have intensified in recent days, came to a head on Friday with a large demonstration in Nicosia. Marchers chanted “hands off our land” and held signs denouncing what they described as outside interference from Ankara.
One of the most vocal critics, Selma Eylem, head of the secondary school teachers’ union, didn’t mince her words: “We say to the representatives of the AKP—keep your hands off our children and keep your hands off our society.”
These remarks reflect a growing discomfort among Turkish Cypriots, who fear their cultural identity is being slowly eroded by the Turkish government’s heavy-handed approach. For many, the headscarf rule is not just about clothing—it’s about values, autonomy, and the future of their community.
Ankara’s grip tightens
President Erdogan had intended for his visit to be a celebration of Turkey’s continued support for the breakaway north, including the unveiling of a new presidential complex funded by Ankara. Instead, it has further exposed the widening rift between Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish state.
Erdogan doubled down on his stance during a public event, warning union leaders who opposed the headscarf regulation, “If you try to mess with our girls’ headscarves in northern Cyprus, I am sorry, you will find us against you.”
That threat did little to cool tensions. For many Turkish Cypriots, who have lived under Turkish military presence since 1974, the growing religious push feels like yet another attempt to reshape their society from the outside.
A deepening divide
Northern Cyprus declared itself a state in 1983 but is recognized only by Turkey. Over the decades, Turkish Cypriots have tried to hold on to their secular values—even as Ankara’s influence grew stronger, especially under Erdogan’s leadership.
The community is now grappling with what many describe as a "cultural invasion", a steady stream of mosque construction, ideological interference in schools, and now, laws that chip away at the north’s traditionally secular lifestyle.
For veteran trade unionist Şener Elcil, the fear is no longer abstract. “We are made to feel like a minority in our own land,” he said, pointing to the thousands of settlers from mainland Turkey who have moved into the north over the years. “Religion was never a dividing line on this island, but now they want to make it one.”
Calls for resistance and reunification
The protests have been led by more than 100 unions and civil society groups, many of which still support a reunified Cyprus under a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. Their message is simple: they want control over their own identity and future—free from what they see as Ankara’s overreach.
As political analyst Hubert Faustmann puts it, “This is a cultural clash. The headscarf law is just one part of Erdogan’s broader effort to roll back the secular values of the Turkish Cypriot community.”
With Erdogan pushing for a “two-state solution” and the local leadership in the north closely aligned with Ankara, Turkish Cypriots find themselves in a difficult position—torn between growing domestic resistance and powerful external pressure.
But for many, the stakes couldn’t be clearer. “If we are to save ourselves, we have to continue this struggle,” Elcil said. “Now more than ever, we need to stand up and make our voices heard.”
*Source: The Guardian
