"I will not perform the funeral prayer for those who insult my religion when they die": North Cyprus Imam threatens in comments targeting Turkish Cypriot teacher Union

The Imam of Hamitköy Mosque, has come under fire over statement he made on social media threatening not to perform prayer rites for Turkish Cypriot teachers for insulting his religion.

The post by İbrahim Damar on Friday came following the tensions that emanated from a secondary where a student was refused entry for wearing a headscarf.

“Those who insult my religion and do not even allow the state into schools—when they die, I will not allow them into the mosque. I will not announce their death. I will not perform their funeral prayer. Let me be clear: Anyone who opposes the headscarf is an infidel. The funeral prayer of an infidel is not performed,” İbrahim Damar on social media.

İbrahim Damar, faced strong backlash over the use of threatening language toward the Cyprus Turkish Secondary Education Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS) administration and for openly targeting them.

Recall that there was tension and chaos at İrsen Küçük Middle School in north Cyprus on Friday when a student who turned up to school with a headscarf on was not allowed into the classroom.

The family of the student came to the school in the morning and tried to get the child into school telling the teachers and union representatives, "You are not the state, you cannot interfere, this is a state school."

The Director of the Secondary Education Department supported the family and tried to take the child and put him in school despite the regulations.

Teachers said they would let the child into school if he dressed in accordance with the regulations.

With the parents' support for the teachers, the family gave up the attempt.

Later, officials from the Ministry of Education entered the school "angrily."

The high-level team, consisting of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, the Director of the Department of Secondary Education, the Director of the Department of Education and Training, and an inspector, went directly to the school principal's office.

The principal, who had been using his leave of absence for a while due to the pressure from the Ministry of Education officials, fainted.

An ambulance was then called to the school and healthcare professionals treated the principal.

Turkish Cypriot teachers union KTOEÖS stated that the tension experienced at İrsen Küçük Middle School was organized and held the embassy and the Ministry of National Education responsible.