Government decision to legalize the use of hijab in schools in north Cyprus cancelled

Following protests and a ‘supreme court’ appeal by the north Cyprus teachers’ unions Ktoeos and Ktoes, TRNC ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel on Monday announced that the regulation allowing headscarves in schools has been withdrawn.

Earlier on Monday, both unions had filed a lawsuit challenging the ‘ministerial’ decision to amend regulations regarding schools’ dress codes to allow pupils to wear hijabs.

Ktoes secretary general Burak Mavis criticised the ‘government’ for remaining silent until now, calling the initial plans a political manoeuvre.

“Making such a decision during the month of Ramadan, when people’s religious feelings are high, is in our opinion an example of conspiracy and political mechanisation,” Mavis said.

“This is not educational reform; it is an ideological intervention in the education system. We will resist outside interference. Cyprus is and will remain secular,” he emphasised, adding that there was an effort to push society in a backward direction, that would distance it from the values of the Turkish Cypriot community and critical thinking.

Meanwhile right-wing nationalist coalition party YDP suspended plans for events outside high schools and colleges in support of the regulation initially announced for Tuesday.

Following the announcement of the new regulation that permitted head coverings worn due to religious beliefs was announced last Monday teachers and opposition political figures in the north reacted with outrage peaking in a protest held previous Friday.

At the protest, Cyprus Turkish secondary education teachers’ union (Ktoeos) leader Selma Eylem voiced strong opposition to the regulation saying that it “disregards our constitution and laws which order the state to provide education in a secular, scientific manner”.

The new regulation stated that head coverings worn for religious reasons would be permitted provided that they were single coloured and matched the school uniform.