FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Turkish Cypriot trade unions are escalating their protests, with plans for a general strike, to demand the withdrawal of a regulation permitting headscarves in schools.
The unions, alongside over 50 supporting organizations, announced during a joint press conference that demonstrations will resume on Monday, April 14.
Speakers at the conference criticized the regulation, arguing that presenting the headscarf as a symbol of freedom is hypocritical and undermines the principle of secularism.
Earlier this week, Sibel Tatar, wife of Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, publicly expressed her support for the protesters opposing the newly implemented regulation .
In a social media post, she described the amendment as “unnecessary” and deemed the citizens’ reaction “justified.”
Ms. Tatar revealed that she would have joined the protest march, which saw over 10,000 Turkish Cypriots rallying against the regulation, had it not coincided with her attendance at a cultural event.
She voiced her opposition to underage schoolgirls being compelled to wear headscarves, often at the insistence of their families, while highlighting the existence of the “Hala Sultan” theological college as an alternative educational option for those who choose it.
The regulation, which came into effect on Wednesday, has sparked widespread debate and resistance, with demonstrators emphasizing their commitment to secular values and autonomy.