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Hundreds of Turkish Cypriots marched through occupied Nicosia on Friday to protest what they call Ankara’s imposition of political Islam and interference in their secular way of life, ahead of an expected visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Organized by more than 100 civil society groups and teachers' unions, the demonstration was sparked by growing concerns over headscarf regulations and broader efforts to reshape education and society along religious lines. Protesters gathered near the Turkish “embassy” and “parliament” buildings in the occupied northern part of the island, carrying banners that read, “This land is ours,” and “We will not allow political Islam to exploit our girls.”
Speakers condemned what they described as Erdogan’s attempt to erode secularism in the region. “We are here to defend our identity, our religion, and our language,” said Selma Eylem, president of the secondary education union KTOEOS. “This land is ours.”
Union leaders and opposition politicians, including Tufan Erhurman, Zeki Celer, and Mehmet Harmanci, joined the protest. They accused Ankara of prioritizing mosques and luxury construction over basic infrastructure like hospitals and schools, while disregarding the will of Turkish Cypriots.
“The issue is not with the Turkish people,” said KTOS union official Burak Mavis. “It’s with the policies of the Turkish government. We are secular and will remain secular.”
The protest also served as a broader call for democratic rights, with demonstrators vowing to resist threats, corruption, and what they see as growing authoritarianism. “If the mandate is yours,” said KTOS President Mustafa Baybora, addressing Erdogan, “the squares are ours, the streets are ours, and the homeland is ours.”
The demonstration comes amid rising tension between the Turkish Cypriot community and Ankara, with plans underway for renewed mobilization in October to reclaim local political leadership.
