Two students in the north arrested for not standing up

Two female students at the Eastern Mediterranean University were detained by Turkish Cypriot police at their graduation ceremony, following the girls’ refusal to stand during the national anthem.

According to Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris Postasi, the two students aged 22 and 30, from Eastern Turkey’s Sirnak province, were sitting down during the singing of the national anthem at EMU's graduation ceremony in Famagusta.

When they were warned to stand up, they refused according to the report.

A very brief video was also posted online, showing the students at their seats with people around them standing up and singing the national anthem of Turkey.

A police officer later arrested the two girls, with at least one of them saying they did not stand due to knee problems.

It was not clear whether the students violated any school graduation protocol, but Knews understands the police charged the students with inappropriate behaviour.