Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has faced criticism amid his efforts to portray Ankara as a secular Muslim society, urging protesters to refrain from “sowing seeds of hatred.” This remark came during a swift visit to the Turkish-occupied territories on Saturday, where he addressed rising demonstrations among Turkish Cypriots against policies he openly endorses.
“Those who disrupt our brotherly love and create divisions will not succeed,” he stated while launching a new presidential settlement and parliament in the self-declared nation.
Later, speaking at a Technology Festival, he warned unions opposing the measures, saying, “If you’re going to target our girls’ scarves in Northern Cyprus, you’ll find us standing against that.”
On Friday, thousands of Turkish Cypriots gathered in Nicosia, the capital, chanting phrases like “let us go from our land” in protest of the new legislation.
During a speech near the Turkish embassy, Selma Eilem, head of the union of Turkish secondary education teachers in Cyprus, criticized the regulations as an imposition of political Islam on a community proud of its secular identity.
“We’ll tell the representatives of the AKP once more: Leave our children and our society alone!” she urged.
Erdogan’s trip aimed to highlight Ankara’s support for the Turkish Cypriots, who sought help during Turkey’s military intervention in Cyprus back in 1974, which followed a coup backed by Greece seeking to unite with the island. The territory, unilaterally declaring independence in 1983, remains recognized only by Turkey.
Before his arrival, officials noted that Erdogan’s focus lay on inaugurating a large government complex financed by Ankara to foster international legitimacy for the isolated regions.
During his visit, Erdogan insisted that only “two state solutions” could be considered after decades of unsuccessful peace talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
The protests on Friday, part of ongoing demonstrations against the Hijab Act, were organized by over 100 trade unions and civil society groups, many of which still advocate for unity across the island.
Hubert Faustman, a history and political science professor at the University of Nicosia, characterized Turkish Cypriots as some of the most secular Muslims globally, pointing to the effects of Kemalism and 82 years of British colonial rule.
He also highlighted concerns regarding Erdogan’s invasive policies that threaten longstanding secular traditions and, potentially, the community’s identity.
The backlash against the law shows little sign of diminishing, despite support for it from Elsin Tatar, a close ally of Erdogan. Tatar has defended the measure against the community’s resistance.
“If we want to save ourselves, we must continue this fight,” asserted Jenner Elch, a veteran union member.
He lamented how the influx of settlers makes Turkish Cypriots feel like a minority in their own land.
“Religion was never the cause of the island’s division, but they’ve built a mosque that Turkish Cypriots don’t visit and want to bring it into our schools,” he added. “Now, more than ever, we must stand up to Erdogan and make our voices heard.”
