Turkish Cypriots took to the streets to demonstrate a new regulation allowing female secondary school pupils to wear the hijab at school. Local critics say the move undermines their secular traditions.
This follows similar protests last month, which coincided with some government prevarication on the issue. Previously, the council of ministers of the self-styled Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus—recognised only by Turkey—amended its school disciplinary code to permit headscarves in high school.
While middle schools would also get discretionary powers on this—and other religious garb —opposition parties, educators, and unions all came out against the policy. Today’s scheduled demonstrations represent an intensification of this campaign.
According to the Cyprus Turkish Teachers’ Trade Union chief Burak Mavis
Granting exceptions to religious symbols in public schools is a practice that is contrary to secularism and also threatens the development of children … Individuals under the age of 18 do not have the developmental capacity to make their own decisions, it is misleading to accept an ideological and symbolic choice such as the headscarf as free will.
Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar defended the new rule as one allowing “personal choice.”
