Northern Cyprus: protests against headscarves in schools
An estimated 13,000 Cypriots took to the streets of Nicosia on Tuesday to protest against the legalisation of the wearing of headscarves in Turkish Cypriot public schools, chanting the slogan 'Cyprus is secular'. High-ranking figures from across the political spectrum of the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island also took part. Media from the south put the rally in context.
Unease over dependence on Ankara
Cypriot Turks don't want to be patronised by Turkey, the Cyprus Times stresses:
“It's not the religious symbol of the headscarf and the free expression of religious beliefs that have caused unease among Cypriot Turks. The main reason for the reactions is Turkey's general attitude towards the pseudo-state. Erdoğan's position of 'I decide and rule' and all attempts to control Cyprus are not supported by the majority. ... This is why Ankara is not giving up its role as the main financier of the pseudo-state, nor its efforts to strengthen the settlement policy. For years there has not been the slightest doubt that decisions about the occupied territories are not actually taken in the occupied territories.”
Not a word against Erdoğan
Commenting in Politis, Turkish Cypriot columnist Şener Levent takes a completely different view of the demonstration:
“This was not an opposition rally. And above all it was not directed against the Turkish occupation. That's why it was so big. Most of the associations and organisations took part only on that condition. Not a single word was said against either Turkey or Erdoğan. ... After the introduction of the headscarf in our schools, which comes into force today, the process of Muslimisation will accelerate. There will be Koran lessons, religious orders, sheikhs and who knows what else. We will always lose as long as we gather in these squares but don't say a single word against Turkey, which is doing all this to us.”