A massive protest march was organized on Tuesday night in the occupied northern part of Cyprus by educational organizations under the central slogan “We Will Not Back Down.” The demonstration, attended by thousands of Turkish Cypriots, began from a main avenue in occupied Nicosia, passed in front of the “presidential palace,” and ended at the monument in front of the “parliament” and the Turkish “embassy.”

Slogans on banners included: “Don’t veil our children—shut down the Imam Hatip schools instead,” “We support the electricity authority,” “Pikachu would have come too, but the power was out,” and “Impositions and impoverishment will not pass.” Protesters called on the “government” to resign and chanted: “Cyprus is secular and will remain secular,” and “Ankara, hands off our land.”

The march was supported by more than 40 organizations, trade unions, associations, and political parties. Among those present were former leader Mustafa Akıncı, Serdar Denktaş, the son of Fazıl Küçük, Mehmet Küçük, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Tufan Erhürman, People’s Party (HP) leader Kudret Özersay, Communal Democracy Party (TDP) leader Zeki Çeler, and United Cyprus Party (BKP) leader İzzet İzcan.

Addressing the crowd, Selma Eylem, president of the Turkish Cypriot Secondary Education Teachers’ Union (KTOEÖS), stated: “We will not bow to impositions, to regulations, or to you.” She continued: “We are all here together, speaking out against those who give orders without regard for the constitution, laws, ECHR rulings, or expert reports—and against AKP representatives who abuse children.” “We are here to say no to those who blindly follow ideological directives, who sell out their own people, who close their eyes to the darkness women are being dragged into. We are here to say stop.”

Mustafa Baybora, head of the Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers’ Union (KTÖS), declared: “We are here to support our own will. That will is in Cyprus. All of you must respect it. You’re making a mockery of our country by taking orders. We are here to support our country.” Baybora accused the “government” of being a “champion of corruption” and stated their presence was a rejection of both corruption and attacks on freedom of expression. “This is no longer just the teachers’ struggle; it is the struggle of all society.”

Güven Bengihan, head of the Turkish Cypriot Public Servants’ Union (KTAMS), said: “We will continue to say stop to those who interfere with the values of this community, who ignore the ‘constitution’ and undermine democracy.” “We are here to oppose those who use religion for political purposes, who use our children for political ends, the puppets. We are here to defend the right to a secular, democratic, and scientific education—and to say ‘God protect us’ from Atatürk’s enemies, reactionaries, megalomaniacs, and cults.”

Ahmet Serdaroğlu, president of the Free Trade Union Federation (Hür-İş), stated: “Those who are involved in every act of corruption and theft cannot lecture the public about religion.” “You cannot teach us how to live our faith. I am a Muslim. Those who violate human rights cannot teach me how to be one.” Serdaroğlu said he would not vote for Ersin Tatar in the upcoming “presidential” elections. “The Turkish Cypriot people need a real leader. Since Rauf Denktaş and Fazıl Küçük, we haven’t had one.” He concluded by shouting the slogan: “Peace in Cyprus cannot be stopped,” adding that he is a Turkish Cypriot and he wants a leader “who won’t bend.”

His remarks sparked a reaction from Serdar Denktaş and İzzet İzcan, who demanded the microphone. A brief moment of tension followed on stage but was quickly defused.

Photo Credits: Kıbrıs Postası