Thousands of Turkish Cypriots marched through northern Nicosia to protest growing Islamization in their territory. Organized by trade unions and educators, the demonstrations oppose what they see as Turkey’s efforts to erode the secular character of Northern Cyprus through political Islam.

The latest trigger was the Turkish-Cypriot government’s decision to lift a ban on headscarves in high schools, prompting fears of increased religious influence in education. Protesters carried signs such as “Cyprus will stay secular” and “It won’t pass,” reflecting widespread concern about changes to the traditionally secular public sphere.

Elma Eylem, head of the teachers’ union KTOEÖS, called the policy shift “a step of social engineering” and accused Turkey’s ruling AKP of using religious policies to exert control over Turkish Cypriots. “This is not about freedom or dress codes,” she told Euronews, “but about pushing political Islam onto our society.”