[Cyprus] Protests: Peaceful protest

On 8 April 2025, an estimated 13,000 Turkish Cypriots, organized by KTOEOS and KTOS, participated in a massive protest in Northern Nicosia with the slogan 'It will not pass' against Turkish President Erdogan amid a push to introduce the Islamic headscarf, which was previously banned at schools in Northern Cyprus. About 70 civil society organizations, trade unions and political parties participated in the protest, including KTAMS, DP, CTP, TDP, HP, BKP, YKP, BY, Cyprus Turkish Bar Association, Cyprus Turkish Journalists Association, Cyprus Turkish Medical Association, Women's Education Collective, as well as the families of former leaders Kuciuk and Denktash, former Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and the Mayor of Northern Nicosia. On 9 April, the Turkish Cypriot government that had previously backed down, approved the controversial regulation, introducing the headscarf in secondary schools. The leader of YDP, the Turkish settlers' party, announced that a counter-protest would soon take place with the title 'Respect to the Motherland and the Flag' in response to those who tell the Turkish ambassador to 'Go Home'.

Severity

LOW

Occurred

2025-04-08

Country

Cyprus

Event type

protest

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